GT #26: Nuggets @ Bullets 8 PM (NBCSW/1500 AM) [2/17/21]

[FAH1223]

YOUR Washington Bullets are 8-17 and winners of two straight.

But on Wednesday night, a prime opportunity to get back into tank mode awaits with the 2020 Western Conference runner-ups coming to DC. The Nuggets will be on the last leg of a back to back. But with how advanced Jokic is offensively and the talent on the perimeter, this should be an easy game for Denver scoring wise.

With Westbrook's bad shots and turnovers, the Nuggets will have prime transition opportunities.

Harris and Dozier have been out for DEN as has Barton.



-------------------------VS-------------------------


Last game
Nuggets @ Celtics (99-112) - L
Rockets @ Wizards (119-131) - W

Lineups :










Bench:

[nate33]

This should be a total spitshow. Denver knows what they are doing and Jokic will dismantle our pathetic defense.

That said, one thing I've noticed is that we fare better against slower centers who play drop coverage. When teams blitz the Beal pick-and-roll and double team Beal, our offense falls apart, like it did against Miami and New York. Denver can't do that with Jokic so there's a chance Beal could score 45+ points and win this thing for us in a shootout.

[prime1time]

I'm concerned by these two wins in a row. We need to tank. Luckily we have some good teams coming up.

[FAH1223]

Nuggets lost to Celtics tonight

Expecting an offensive burst tomorrow

[Chocolate City Jordanaire]

Just face it. This team will do anything to blow getting a top-three pick. I expect a win.

Kiss Mobley/Suggs/Cunningham goodbye.

[nate33]

I'm concerned by these two wins in a row. We need to tank. Luckily we have some good teams coming up.

Don't worry. We still suck. We've had a pretty easy schedule over the last 9 games. We're a pretty sure bet to lose the next 5.

[MDStar]

I'm concerned by these two wins in a row. We need to tank. Luckily we have some good teams coming up.

Don't worry. We still suck. We've had a pretty easy schedule over the last 9 games. We're a pretty sure bet to lose the next 5.

I actually would not be surprised by a win tonight, although certainly not expecting one. I've been paying more attention to the NBA as a whole over the past month and if there's one thing I've noticed, it's teams playing on the 2nd end of a back to back, on the the road, are more likely to lose that game, than they are to win it. Plus add in the fact that after assuredly getting up mentally for the Boston (good team) game, a game they got beat handedly the way, they truly don't have a reason to give their A game vs. a terrible team like the Wizards. Hell, the line is Den -3.5, meaning even the odds makers think that this game will be closer than what the records say. I expect a close game, that can go either way and will probably come down to the last 5 min of the game.

All that said, I've been wrong before and I've learned never to bet on the Wizards to do anything positive that will make me happy.

[nate33]

I'm concerned by these two wins in a row. We need to tank. Luckily we have some good teams coming up.

Don't worry. We still suck. We've had a pretty easy schedule over the last 9 games. We're a pretty sure bet to lose the next 5.

I actually would not be surprised by a win tonight, although certainly not expecting one. I've been paying more attention to the NBA as a whole over the past month and if there's one thing I've noticed, it's teams playing on the 2nd end of a back to back, on the the road, are more likely to lose that game, than they are to win it. Plus add in the fact that after assuredly getting up mentally for the Boston (good team) game, a game they got beat handedly the way, they truly don't have a reason to give their A game vs. a terrible team like the Wizards. Hell, the line is Den -3.5, meaning even the odds makers think that this game will be closer than what the records say. I expect a close game, that can go either way and will probably come down to the last 5 min of the game.

All that said, I've been wrong before and I've learned never to bet on the Wizards to do anything positive that will make me happy.

I watched a little of that Denver game and was surprised at how bad Denver looked. If not for Jokic's herculean efforts, it would have been a massive blowout.

I think you may be right and I was wrong. The upcoming Denver games are not certain losses for Washington.

[Ruzious]

Jokic is just unguardable. Big guys don't have a chance on him out on the perimeter. Smaller players can't contend with him inside. Honestly, I think Wagner has a better chance than most centers against him. The first half will tell - will we give up 70 plus? Probably. But if we can hold them under 60, the game will be worth watching.

[Kanyewest]

The Wizards last win against the Nuggets which came without Beal, Bertans, and Bryant. With Ish out again and Brown on the bench, the only guy who is in the Wizards rotation from that game is Garrison Matthews.

https://www.basketball-reference.com/boxscores/202001040WAS.html

[dlts20]

It sucks because we are looking better but we could play our best ball of the season and still lose alot of upcoming games. The sked is brutal

[Meliorus]

Easy W here. Watched the Nuggets game last night and they put out some embarrassing lineups in crunch-time. You're really relying on Campazzo to play 40 minutes? This does not help our draft pick though.

[wall_glizzy]

That said, one thing I've noticed is that we fare better against slower centers who play drop coverage. When teams blitz the Beal pick-and-roll and double team Beal, our offense falls apart, like it did against Miami and New York. Denver can't do that with Jokic so there's a chance Beal could score 45+ points and win this thing for us in a shootout.

Easy W here. Watched the Nuggets game last night and they put out some embarrassing lineups in crunch-time. You're really relying on Campazzo to play 40 minutes?

With Barton, Harris, Morris, and Dozier out, they do. Those first two are especially significant, though - they'd be the usual choices to defend Beal, and with neither available circumstances will be quite similar to the Nuggets/Jazz series in which, without a single Denver defender who could navigate a high screen, Donovan Mitchell obliterated the drop scheme.

Of course, we don't have anyone who applies nearly the pressure that Gobert does as a lob threat, so it's possible Denver just has the big hedge - it's actually been less of a disaster than one would think, historically.

[ducler]

Read on Twitter

[Ruzious]

We triple team Jokic and dare JaMychal Green to beat us. Hope the ducler effect doesn't do us in.

[nate33]

It's interesting that Brooks continues to start Mathews even though Mathews has been almost invisible offensively as a starter. I guess Brooks is happy to know that Mathews will set the right tone of maximum defensive effort from the opening tip-off.

[80sballboy]

What was the gameplan on Jokic? To not double-team him when he's down low or to let him catch the ball on Wagner? He might have 50 tonight.

[80sballboy]

It's interesting that Brooks continues to start Mathews even though Mathews has been almost invisible offensively as a starter. I guess Brooks is happy to know that Mathews will set the right tone of maximum defensive effort from the opening tip-off.

He's 2-0 with Wagner and Matthews as starters. Coaches are superstitious. There's no way Brooks is changing the luck.

[Jimmy Recard]

Good grief. Jokic might be the best player in the world atm. Nothing you can do with him

[WallToWall]

Good grief. Jokic might be the best player in the world atm. Nothing you can do with him

He is good, but keep in mind that we have ways of making one average joe look like a superstar on any given day.