Wizards 2-10 vs Bucks 9-4
When: Monday, November 20th, at 7 p.m.
Where: Capital One Arena, Washington D.C.
TV: NBCSWA, Bally Sports WI
Radio: The Team 980 AM/ WFED 1500 AM, 620 AM/103.3 FM WTMJ
Injury:
Wizards: Johnny Davis (Questionable, Left Elbow Sprain), Delon Wright (Out, Left Knee),
Bucks: Jae Crowder (Out, Left Adductor Surgery), MarJon Beauchamp (Out, Right Ankle Sprain), Chris Livingston (Out, Left Ankle Sprain)
Keep An Eye On:
Washington's Team Defense: has been their achilles heel all season. Coming in to tonight's contest against the Bucks, the Wizards allow 122.9 points per game, which is 28th in the NBA and their defensive rating is 118.6, which is 26th in the league. They have to show more fight and togetherness on the defensive end to start to win games. It's clear. Offensively for the most part, they're scoring well enough to have a record far better than 2-10, defensively, the lack there of, is what's costing them games. It's on the players, starting with their two best players Kyle Kuzma and Jordan Poole, to right the ship.
Run Milwaukee Off The 3-Point Line: is essential to being in position to potentially defeat them. You’re not going to stop them inside. Antetokounmpo obviously is a MONSTER inside, however he isn't alone, Bobby Portis and Brook Lopez are reliable scorers inside as well. Washington simply doesn't have the size to hold the Bucks at bay in the paint long enough to secure a much needed win. However, they do have the personnel to limit their three point shooting if committed to consistent close outs. Milwaukee comes in 5th in the NBA in 3-point shooting percentage, converting 38.1 percent of their shots from deep, while Washington ranks 15th in defending the three, holding opponents to 35.6 percent shooting. Washington has to take away something from Milwaukee to keep things competitive. They have the depth and speed on the perimeter to get it done. It's just a matter of staying consistent throughout the game. Will they do it? Time will tell.
Giannis Antetokounmpo/ Damian Lillard: do I really need to go in depth regarding these two? In case I do, I'll keep it brief. Antetokounmpo and Lillard combined average 54.1 points, 14.1 rebounds,10.5 assists and 2.1 steals per game. Antetokounmpo averaged 23.6 points, 9.9 rebounds and 5.4 assists on 54.2 percent shooting over his career against Washington. Lillard, averages 27.6 points, 7 assists and 4.9 rebounds over his career against the Wizards. Need I keep going??? Didn't think so.
Jordan Poole: .......Simplify his game. To me, this is the biggest reason for his offensive struggles and why he has been so up and down. Poole is having the worse shooting season of his career outside his rookie season. He's averaging 15.5 points on 39 percent shooting from the field and 27.8 percent from deep with his field goal percentage being second to last as the worst of his career and his current three point shooting percentage being the worst of his career. The one bright spot for Poole is he's shooting 81 percent from the free throw line, WHICH FURTHER PROVES MY POINT on simplifying his game. Poole takes a lot of tough, bad, hero shots and it not only disrupts his offensive rhythm, it disrupts the Wizards offensive flow as a whole. Poole attempts 14.7 shots per game, second most on the team, nearly HALF of those shots are three pointers (6.6). Getting to the basket more and drawing fouls along with taking more efficient shots from the perimeter is what I think will get Poole rolling offensively and the Wizards will be better for it. It's just a matter of will Poole humble himself and lessen the flash in his game and focus more on the substance in it. He's a talented scorer, Washington needs him to be that immediately if they are to put together a much needed winning streak.