Mavs-Wiz Preview: Who Starts For Washington?

Mike Fisher -- DB.com

   The Washington Wizards have already set a record: They are the most optimistic 19-win team in NBA history.

   Some tids and bits about the Wiz to help preview their visit to the AAC tonight, including probable starting lineups, key numbers and the matchups to watch:

*Washington finished 19-63 in 2008-09. The Wizards were the worst team in the East.

*For-sure Wizards starters tonight: A healthy Gilbert Arenas is at the 1. Newcomer Mike Miller is at the 2. Caron Butler is the 3. Brendan Haywood will be the center. And then coach Flip Sanders has a decision to make at the 4 with Antawn Jamison out. He’ll choose between Andray Blatche and Fabio.

*What does all that mean to the Mavs? Well, I gave you Dallas’ probable starters yesterday (Kidd and Ross, Dirk, Marion and Damp.) Marion believes Kidd will guard Arenas, but Ross is available there, too. That might mean Kidd on Miller. Upfront, Damp will wrestle with Haywood. Marion vs. Butler, of course. And then at the 4? No matter what Flip does, don’t you kind of like Dirk’s chances for a big night?

*Nowitzki averaged 28.5 points on 52.2 percent shooting last year in Dallas's two wins over the Wizards last season.

*Dallas is favored by 8.

*Marion vs. Butler is the Matchup of The Night. Both these guys are about equally capable of being the best player on the floor at a given time.

*Tipoff is 7:30. I’ll be on the 103.3 ESPN Radio pregame show tonight at 6:20.

*DeShawn Stevenson and Randy Foye will give Washington some bench strength.

*Jamison is expected to miss the Wizards' first eight to 13 games after dislocating his shoulder.

*The last time Arenas was healthy was 2006-07. But that year, Arenas averaged 28.4 ppg.

*Dallas finished 50-32 last season. We call that 9X50.

*The Mavs seem extremely intent on avoid a slow start to the season. Beginning 2-7 last year will do that to you.

*"If we stay healthy, we should be able to compete in the East for an elite spot." – Flip Saunders, showing off that optimism.