Game 55: Bucks at Wizards - 2/21/25 - 6:00 - FDSWI - Giannis In, Dame/Prince Out

Post #1 » by **MickeyDavis** » Fri Feb 21, 2025 5:03 am

Lots to unpack with this one. Middleton and Smart make their Wizards debut. Smart has only played 19 games this season. Brogdon - sit down before you read this - was hurt in the last game before the break and is out. Johnson has played a few inconsequential minutes for Washington.

I really hope we play everyone and don't punt this. Yes the Wizards only have 9 wins but our schedule is tough the rest of the season, we can't afford to FAFO.

I'm thinking Giannis doesn't play. We have another game Sunday. But we'll see. You know he'd love to play against Khris.

As always please limit this thread to posts about this game only. Thanks.

mediocrityrules · Post #2 » by **mediocrityrules** » Fri Feb 21, 2025 5:06 am

I think Giannis plays, but it'll be minutes restriction again.

KidA24 · Post #3 » by **KidA24** » Fri Feb 21, 2025 5:10 am

If Giannis doesn't play 20 in this one, he can only miss 4 more games and make all-nba. That's a big deal for him

Plossum · Post #4 » by **Plossum** » Fri Feb 21, 2025 5:53 am

Midds’ revenge

Plossum · Post #5 » by **Plossum** » Fri Feb 21, 2025 5:58 am

Wiz could weirdly be a decent team down the stretch. Wonder how much they plays the vets vs young guys to protect their draft position. Smaht, Val, Brogs and Midds are all still decent NBA players. I can see them trying to rehab these guys wherever possible to trade for more picks.

Dick Tate · Post #6 » by **Dick Tate** » Fri Feb 21, 2025 6:08 am

The Wiz front court is absolute garbage now. Pretty good chance Giannis sits this one out. Let Kuz have chance to say goodnight to the crowd.

blazza18 · Post #7 » by **blazza18** » Fri Feb 21, 2025 6:35 am

Plossum wrote:Midds’ revenge

That is actually how many minutes he'll play

drew881 · Post #8 » by **drew881** » Fri Feb 21, 2025 6:41 am

If Giannis sits out you also have Brook going heavy minutes on a back to back. Probably need a lot of Sims and even some minutes from Smith.

tedbrogen · Post #9 » by **tedbrogen** » Fri Feb 21, 2025 7:55 am

MickeyDavis wrote:Brogdon - sit down before you read this - was hurt in the last game before the break and is out.

Content like this is why I come to this site.

pifhluk23 · Post #10 » by **pifhluk23** » Fri Feb 21, 2025 11:33 am

KidA24 wrote:If Giannis doesn't play 20 in this one, he can only miss 4 more games and make all-nba. That's a big deal for him

He can miss 5 more, he will get credit (like Haliburton) for the IST championship game.

Matches Malone · Post #11 » by **Matches Malone** » Fri Feb 21, 2025 1:09 pm

Read on Twitter

ShootingtheJ · Post #12 » by **ShootingtheJ** » Fri Feb 21, 2025 1:21 pm

drew881 wrote:If Giannis sits out you also have Brook going heavy minutes on a back to back. Probably need a lot of Sims and even some minutes from Smith.

I think we could actually play Kuzma as the 5.

MartyConlonOnTheRun · Post #13 » by **MartyConlonOnTheRun** » Fri Feb 21, 2025 1:35 pm

KidA24 wrote:If Giannis doesn't play 20 in this one, he can only miss 4 more games and make all-nba. That's a big deal for him

wonder how many games where he plays a light 20 min and still be first team. his PPG will obviously take a hit but still should be good enough

chonestown · Post #14 » by **chonestown** » Fri Feb 21, 2025 2:16 pm

Giannis looked hobbled last night and that doesn't bode well for his playoff availability. It's the sort of injury that will linger.

Prince Akeem will get at least one transition dunk when 4/5 Bucks can't be arsed to cross the half-court line.

120-104.

jschligs · Post #15 » by **jschligs** » Fri Feb 21, 2025 2:22 pm

I'd like to see Sims get 15-20 minutes tonight. See how he can hold up against the back ups of the league. I'd play Giannis but tell him to take it easy, be a facilitator. Dame should get 25 minutes too.

Let the role players and Kuz get up to speed and with Giannis and Dame playing a little the win should be easy. But I've watched us against bottom feeder teams often enough to know that might not happen.

Ron Swanson · Post #16 » by **Ron Swanson** » Fri Feb 21, 2025 2:30 pm

Playing Giannis tonight after being on a minutes restriction 12-hours ago would be incredibly irresponsible. I get that you can't afford to drop games like this against bad teams, but Dame looked a bit hobbled as well. Sit them both.

CharityStripe34 · Post #17 » by **CharityStripe34** » Fri Feb 21, 2025 2:31 pm

If he's on a minutes restriction then I imagine Giannis will play and be capped at 24-25 like he was last night. I don't think he looked hobbled as much as just a bit rusty.

Frank Nova · Post #18 » by **Frank Nova** » Fri Feb 21, 2025 2:55 pm

Start KPJ/Green/Prince/Kuz/Sims

Sit Dame, Giannis and Brook.

Prove Doc is a good coach and live with the results.

Badgerlander · Post #19 » by **Badgerlander** » Fri Feb 21, 2025 3:12 pm

Sit Giannis to keep his knees safe from Smart backing into them under the hoop

emunney · Post #20 » by **emunney** » Fri Feb 21, 2025 3:22 pm

Matches Malone wrote:

Read on Twitter

The thing that gives me comfort and kind of justifies the trade is how he reacts to the suggestion of playing 35mpg. Like, we were absolutely going to need that from in in the POs, and he makes it sound like it's out of the question. Still miss him and don't think we did the right thing, but that definitely softens it.