Wizards vs. Bucks (Wednesday, December 2nd)

[Wizards2Lottery]

Time to notch another W

[Hoopalotta]

Bogut is a bloody load; soft touch with a huge body, he's obviously playing with a lot more confidence offensively. They just run a lot of their offense through him and the stats don't do him justice at all; he's the key to stopping them more so than Jennings at this point. He's great at passing out of the post and without him they're perimeter oriented role players would be looking at a lot less efficiency. He threw Juaquim Noah around the other night like a mannequin in a cocktail frock whenever they bodied up.

As to that Jennings kid, you've likely heard of him.

The aforementioned 'perimeter role players' are pretty sweet in their roles and the whole team plays with a lot of energy and cohesiveness; well coached. Lots of X-factor spot up shooters with good ball movement.

Not great talent at the top of the roster outside of BJ & the Australian, but Illyasova's gotta be the number three guy on their squad and he's got big upside with his stroke, craftiness and length-quickness ratio. I've loved how he's played, but am quite surprised to see he's actually snatching boards at such a good rate. I thought he was a small forward when I first saw him. I think he could easily be the fourth weapon on a real good team.

The matchups aren't too bad though, at least outside Jennings against Gil's legs after a 39 minute run last night. Haywood is about as fine a foil for Bogut as there is in the league and Illyaso' isn't a horrible matchup for Jamison (nor is Warrick). Our defensive rotations on the shooters? Dunno.

Again, it is a back to back, so the Zardo's own effort level is the real key.

[closg00]

Looking foward to seeing Jenning's game, he is a ROY candidate for-sure.

[DaRealHibachi]

Must win, we can't win a game on the road and lose/get blown out @ home like the last time... Just not acceptable...

That said, I think we'll come out with a win... Haywood is the perfect matchup for Bogut, Redd is injured... Jennings (who in my eyes is lil overrated) may have a decent game, but nothing we can't overcome... AJ will have a field day against them, Gil will probably put up the same numbers with better efficiency... CB needs to keep an eye on Mbah a Moute, he's pretty good...

Wiz by 15...

[fishercob]

These guys run a ton of screen/roll with Jennings and Bogut. Disrupting that will be important.

[closg00]

Must win, we can't win a game on the road and lose/get blown out @ home like the last time... Just not acceptable...

That said, I think we'll come out with a win... Haywood is the perfect matchup for Bogut, Redd is injured... Jennings (who in my eyes is lil overrated) may have a decent game, but nothing we can't overcome... AJ will have a field day against them, Gil will probably put up the same numbers with better efficiency... CB needs to keep an eye on Mbah a Moute, he's pretty good...

Wiz by 15...

Why would you say Jennings is a lil over rated? He leads all rookies in just about every category. Jennings is going to be a blur tonight.

[Chocolate City Jordanaire]

DRH, I've seen Bogut get the better of Haywood, but I can't remember if it wasn't last season, when Brendan wasn't quite back.

Hoopalotta, I'd say Ilyasova is playing terrific basketball for them. Very good rebounder. Very good shooter, with great range. Watching him he reminds me of a shorter Dirk. They don't call him "Turk Nowitzki" for no reason.

I think this game comes down to whether the Wizards jump the high screen roll and bump Jennings around, or whether they let him get to the rim at will. He's their catalyst. He was getting tired of carrying the scoring load now that the scouting report is out on him and teams are bumping and banging him. Bogut returning helps Jennings out. I fear Jennings will go off on the Wizards, particularly if Gil covers him. I also think Gil can't score with Jennings right now.

Also, I fear that Ilyasova and Bell will get open looks. Ridnour's been great lately, too.

If the Wizards win it will be Jamison scoring, and Haywood, Blatche, and McGee doing a lot of damage at both ends. I don't know about this game, but I think Milwaukee's slightly better right now. The Wizards bigs need to do a number on Jennings, but I just don't see it happening.

[DaRealHibachi]

Must win, we can't win a game on the road and lose/get blown out @ home like the last time... Just not acceptable...

That said, I think we'll come out with a win... Haywood is the perfect matchup for Bogut, Redd is injured... Jennings (who in my eyes is lil overrated) may have a decent game, but nothing we can't overcome... AJ will have a field day against them, Gil will probably put up the same numbers with better efficiency... CB needs to keep an eye on Mbah a Moute, he's pretty good...

Wiz by 15...

Why would you say Jennings is a lil over rated? He leads all rookies in just about every category. Jennings is going to be a blur tonight.

It sounds strange, I know... But I really don't see him keeping it up... I dunno... I also think Evans will be the better player by the end of the season... We'll see I guess...

[Zerocious]

this thread for the SOY (suckiest of the year). C'mon people some effort please!

[NbdyBeatsTheWiz]

^ Zero, is your Jamison banner a piece from a Jamison mural or painting? you got the full image anywhere?

[nate33]

Bogut has fared pretty well against Haywood in the past, but Haywood played well too. In their 4 meetings in 2007/08:

Bogut averaged 17.8 points, 11 boards, 4.3 assists, 1 block and 2.3 turnovers in 36 minutes.
Haywood averaged 12 points, 7.8 boards, 0.5 assists, 3 blocks and 1 turnover in 27 minutes.
Both players shot exactly 50% from the floor and about 70% from the line.

If you extrapolate Haywood's numbers over 36 minutes:
Haywood averaged 15 points, 10 boards, 0.7 assists, 4 blocks and 1.3 turnovers per 36.

Since we know Flip isn't an idiot who benches Haywood for no reason, I think it's safe to assume Haywood will play in the neighborhood of 36 minutes (he hasn't gotten into foul trouble against Bogut). If so, then history shows they should more or less cancel each other out.

[MJG]

Must win, we can't win a game on the road and lose/get blown out @ home like the last time... Just not acceptable...

That said, I think we'll come out with a win... Haywood is the perfect matchup for Bogut, Redd is injured... Jennings (who in my eyes is lil overrated) may have a decent game, but nothing we can't overcome... AJ will have a field day against them, Gil will probably put up the same numbers with better efficiency... CB needs to keep an eye on Mbah a Moute, he's pretty good...

Wiz by 15...

Why would you say Jennings is a lil over rated? He leads all rookies in just about every category. Jennings is going to be a blur tonight.

Jennings is overrated right now. He was amazing for the first few weeks, but has crashed back down to Earth the past couple as scouting reports have come out and defenses have starting paying him attention. Look at his numbers from his past five games: 14.2 PPG on 29.7% shooting (though with 10-19 3P), 6.0 APG, 3.2 RPG, 1.6 SPG, 3.2 TO in 34.6 MPG. Compare that to Arenas' last five games: 14.4 PPG on 40.2% shooting, 6.0 APG, 3.4 RPG, 0.8 SPG, 2.8 TO in 34.2 MPG. Nobody here has been happy with Arenas' performance, and Jennings' has been worse.

I don't want to take away from his strong opening, or his potential down the road. But right now, people are talking about him like he's alread a star, when really what it looks is that he's really more of a potential star in the making who just caught people off guard in his first ten or so games.

[Ruzious]

I think the Bucks are a bad matchup for the Wiz - even though the Wiz have more talent. They like to go to the pick and roll with Jennings and Illyasova, and they have a bunch of players who like to shoot 3's. The Wiz have to get out on their 3 point shooters. Illyasova is a deceptive player. He's white and looks slow and lumbering, but he's gotten very aggressive (He was very passive in his first stint with the Bucks.), he's got length, and he's got skills. He's a surprisingly good defender and rebounder - not just a gunner.

But the obvious matchup to watch - Jennings vs. Gil. This will show us where Gil really is. How that matchup goes might be more important than who wins the game.

[jerold182]

what will happen to foye? will he be traded? does boykins have the one year contract signed already for good?

[Ruzious]

viewtopic.php?f=21&t=963563
Hilarity and hijinks on the Bucks' forum game thread

[Rafael122]

Jennings has cooled off quite a bit and his defense is atrocious. Redd and Ridnour are out I believe. This is a game we should win.

[DallasShalDune]

The Gandalf pic at the Bucks board is hilarious.

The blackhole reputation for Gil is troubling, though. I hope he can repeat last night's performance.

[closg00]

Jennings has cooled off quite a bit and his defense is atrocious. Redd and Ridnour are out I believe. This is a game we should win.

You just jinxed us

[P'Oed]

Ladies and gentlemen....YOUR Washington "Back-to-Back Games" Wizards.


Loss

[LyricalRico]

If MIL really is shorthanded, they'll probably beat us by 20.