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____________VS________

____41-38 (6th East/2nd Southeast Div)__________________15-64 (15th East/5th Central Div)
_________20-19 home, 30-19 vs East_________________________5-34 road, 12-37 vs East
__________5-5 Last 10, Streak: W1___________________________2-8 Last 10, Streak: W1


Back in 6th place in the East.

In the wake of a come-from-behind victory on Friday night vs the retooling Orlando Magic, representing the most powerful city in the world, YOUR Washington Wizards return to the friendly confines of the phone booth for a date night match-up versus the Milwaukee Bucks. The Bucks, like the Wiz, are on the tail end of a back-to-back, having secured victory over the Cleveland Cavaliers on Friday night.

The Bucks are led by young PG/SG Brandon Knight, drafted 8th in the 2011 draft -- two spots after the Wizards took F Jan Vesely -- but I digress. Knight is having a good season, averaging over 17 ppg. PG Ramon Sessions helps round out a really good Milwaukee starting backcourt.

Despite a win on Friday night, YOUR Wizards are not exactly firing on all cylinders as they head into the playoffs. SF Trevor Ariza and SG Bradley Beal have seemingly lost their shot from behind the arc. Ariza has been battling the flu in recent days, so perhaps that has a little to do with his circumstance. PF/C Nene Hilario logged 20 minutes versus the Magic as he rounds into shape as the playoffs approach. He seems to be moving well, after tweaking his left knee, however will still be on a minutes restriction versus the Bucks. Rookie SF Otto Porter saw his first significant burn for a while, recording 9 and 9 versus Orlando.

Wizards head coach Randy Wittman has got to find a way to get the Wizards playing a full 48 minutes of basketball. YOUR Wizards have developed a maddening habit of falling behind early, playing with limited energy and intensity, then trying to play catch up the rest of the game. Moreover, it's' become part of the Wizards team culture to lose games they have no business losing. The Milwaukee Bucks have only 5 road victories all season, and yes, one of those road wins was against the Wizards.

Line-Ups


________________________________________
____________PG John Wall_________________________________PG Ramon Sessions
_____19.6 ppg (43% fg, 35% 3pt, 80% ft)__________________12.2 ppg (43% fg, 28% 3pt, 81% ft)
_____8.7 apg, 4.2 rpg, 1.8 spg, 0.5 bpg_______.___________4.0 apg, 2.5 rpg, 0.6 spg, 0.1 bpg



________________________________________
____________SG Bradley Beal_______________________________SG Brandon Knight
_____16.9 ppg (41% fg, 40% 3pt, 79% ft)__________________17.7 ppg (42% fg, 32% 3pt, 80% ft)
_____3.3 apg, 3.7 rpg, 1.0 spg, 0.2 bpg__________________4.9 apg, 3.5 rpg, 1.0 spg, 0.2 bpg



________________________________________
____________SF Trevor Ariza______________________________SF Khris Middleton
_____14.3 ppg (45% fg, 41% 3pt, 78% ft)_________________11.9 ppg (44% fg, 41% 3pt, 86% ft)
_____2.5 apg, 6.2 rpg, 1.7 spg, 0.3 bpg__________________2.1 apg, 3.8 rpg, 1.0 spg, 0.3 bpg



________________________________________
____________PF Trevor Booker______________________________PF Jeff Adrien
______6.6 ppg (54% fg, 0% 3pt, 63% ft)__________-________6.5 ppg (51% fg, 00% 3pt, 67% ft)
_____5.4 rpg, 0.9 apg, 0.5 spg, 0.7 bpg__________________5.6 rpg, 0.7 apg, 0.4 spg, 0.7 bpg



________________________________________
___________C Marcin Gortat________________________________C Zaza Pachulia
_____13.2 ppg (54% fg, 100% 3pt, 69% ft)_________________7.7 ppg (42% fg, 00% 3pt, 86% ft)
___-__9.4 rpg, 1.7 apg, 0.5 spg, 1.5 bpg_________________6.3 rpg, 2.5 apg, 0.9 spg, 0.3 bpg


---------------------------------------

The playoffs approach. Can YOUR Washington Wizards begin to get into a playoff mentality and put 48 minutes of hard, intense, physical basketball on display versus the Bucks?

Post your thoughts and comments below.

What: Washington Wizards vs Milwaukee Bucks
When: 7:00 p.m. EDT
Where: Verizon Center -- Washington, DC
Radio: WFED-AM, 1500,
TV: CSN, NBATV, NBA League Pass, Quasi-legal internet streams

Let's go Wizards!

pineappleheadindc wrote:Can YOUR Washington Wizards begin to get into a playoff mentality and put 48 minutes of hard, intense, physical basketball on display versus the Bucks?

48? Impossible.

Last time we played them, Wall and Beal was on 50% of their skillset. I guess It's hard for the guys to get motivated against team like Bucks.

Really debating going to this game tonight...

I like to go to as many games as possible but yeeesh... the Bucks. Not sure I want to spend money on this.

pancakes3 wrote:Really debating going to this game tonight...

I like to go to as many games as possible but yeeesh... the Wizards at home. Not sure I want to spend money on this.

Fixed
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MarcoPolo wrote:Last time we played them, Wall and Beal was on 50% of their skillset. I guess It's hard for the guys to get motivated against team like Bucks.

weve played so bad lately and are finally confident coming off a win. Its impossible for them not to show up for tonights game. They will be extremely motivated......................right?

Does anyone think this might be some kind of an omen? Weve only one 1 playoff series in the last million years and it was against the Bulls. I could see us getting in against them and doing that again

Rest Ariza for this one please. He's clearly not 100%, getting him back to form may be more important then any seeding games...especially since we can afford to rest at least one guy vs. the bucks.

RELEASE GR JR

What's the odds of the Wizards reclaiming the fifth spot from the Nets?

truwizfan4evr wrote:What's the odds the Wizards reclaiming the fifth spot from the Nets?

0 and I dont want it anyways. The 1st round would be just as hard and you have to play the Heat in the 2nd round

dlts20 wrote:

truwizfan4evr wrote:What's the odds the Wizards reclaiming the fifth spot from the Nets?

0 and I dont want it anyways. The 1st round would be just as hard and you have to play the Heat in the 2nd round

The Raptors are a dangerous team.

truwizfan4evr wrote:What's the odds the Wizards reclaiming the fifth spot from the Nets?

Low. This is another must win. I definitely think if the Heat beat the Hawks tonight and the Pacers lose to the Thunder tomorrow, then the Heat could very well start resting their starters against us on Monday since they'll have a game and a half lead on the Pacers w/2 games to play.

The Wizards will win. People will breathe a sigh of relief and start to believe the Wizards are "back on track" after a couple of losses when in reality, it's just that the Bucks suck much worse that the suckiness level of the Wizards.

nate33 wrote:The Wizards will win. People will breathe a sigh of relief and start to believe the Wizards are "back on track" after a couple of losses when in reality, it's just that the Bucks suck much worse that the suckiness level of the Wizards.

doesnt matter. Confidence is the most important thing. Its just like a guy bricking everything who gets his confidence up by making a couple of FT's or layups. We will be confident even if it is beating up on scrub teams

nate33 wrote:The Wizards will win. People will breathe a sigh of relief and start to believe the Wizards are "back on track" after a couple of losses when in reality, it's just that the Bucks suck much worse that the suckiness level of the Wizards.

Or maybe the Wizards never really far off track. The Bobcats might actually be decent and were playing their best basketball when the Wizards played them since they had a 5 game winning streak and the Wizards would have won if Beal/Ariza didn't go cold from the outside.

Even the Magic were playing good basketball who managed to beat Brooklyn prior to playing the Wizards.

The Wizards are on track to make the playoffs and hopefully get a competitive series that will help them grow this offseason. The path which they have taken such as giving up a first round pick is not something I would have done but the Wizards weren't expected to go from a non-playoff team to a contender immediately.

Fully expect the Wizards to drop this one.

queridiculo wrote:Fully expect the Wizards to drop this one.

I might follow this on the Bucks board. Their fans sound like they'll be just as upset as we'll be by a Bucks win.
viewtopic.php?f=21&t=1315095

Good, we could do without your incessant trolling.

This board is for serious discussion. Maybe you should reread the board rules.

Kanyewest wrote:

nate33 wrote:The Wizards will win. People will breathe a sigh of relief and start to believe the Wizards are "back on track" after a couple of losses when in reality, it's just that the Bucks suck much worse that the suckiness level of the Wizards.

Or maybe the Wizards never really far off track. The Bobcats might actually be decent and were playing their best basketball when the Wizards played them since they had a 5 game winning streak and the Wizards would have won if Beal/Ariza didn't go cold from the outside.

Even the Magic were playing good basketball who managed to beat Brooklyn prior to playing the Wizards.

The Wizards are on track to make the playoffs and hopefully get a competitive series that will help them grow this offseason. The path which they have taken such as giving up a first round pick is not something I would have done but the Wizards weren't expected to go from a non-playoff team to a contender immediately.

What you say is true, but they also got off track at the same time. Trevor pulled that hammy and then got the flu. Wall is missing FTAs. So is Beal. Wall and Gortat got in some good work while Nene was out and they added Gooden, Miller and AH so they had to mix in.

I also think they got to thinking ahead to Nene returning and the playoffs. Webster has been a little beat up and got out of sorts with all the rotation changing. I think it was a lot of things. Some personnel. Some just a natural exhale after making the playoffs for the first time since the reboot rebuild. And there is always Randy not knowing what pinch of salt the team needs as it goes through these things.

But at least he made the right move to Otto last game and hopefully we see more Otto this game. Nene is mixing in nicely and giving them what they were missing which is a power post player with a mid range game. Gortat did great while he was out but Gortat alone wasn't enough.

Beal looked more focused last game with him driving which was great to see. I think this playoff run is going to give him a kick in the ass to get really focused. Remember, just a 2nd year player and only 20 years old. He still have a lot of NBA maturing to do and a lot has been placed on his shoulder the last two year, but he has talent to tap into.

This team actually has a good mix of talent to hand hold Wall, Beal and now Otto into their first playoffs. Miller, TA, Webster, Gooden, Nene, Gortat and AH are good vets to teach them the ropes. Hell, I would even though Booker in there since he has never been either.

Regarding Mr Booker, he has quietly expanded his offensive game pretty well this year. He is hitting the mid range and he has that iso face up game working pretty well lately. Remember what he looked like year one ? His outside shot was terrible. Now I actually expect it to go in which is a huge turn around.

Now he needs to bring it every night and get better at defense where he can still really suck at times.

Beal's first 40 pt game tonight!!