GT #38: Bullets @ Bucks 8 PM (NBCSW/980 AM) [1/1/23]

[FAH1223]

YOUR Washington Bullets are 16-21!

Winners of 4 in a row, they've had a pretty good week of basketball... and bad news for the tank.

After blowing out a Magic squad missing half its roster due to suspension and/or injury, the Bullets head on the road for New Year's and ring in 2023 with a matchup with one of the East's contending squads.

The Bucks have been struggling as of late. They began the season 9-0 but have only gone 14-12 since. Khris Middleton is out with a knee injury after briefly returning from wrist surgery. Jrue Holiday has been great but will be out with a non-COVID illness. Offseason acquisition Joe Ingles has made his debut and Brook Lopez has put together a Defensive Player of the Year worthy resume so far.

The Bucks broke a 4-game losing streak on Friday against Minnesota. Perennial MVP candidate Giannis Antetokounmpo had his 2nd 40/20 game in a week.

The last time the Bullets won in Milwaukee, it was a 107-104 win on February 27, 2018. If you recall, that was the 'Everybody Eats' squad that played some good ball with John Wall injured. It has been a minute.

So with that history in mind, the tank surely must go on, right?!



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



Projected Lineups :











Bench:

[nate33]

The Wizards actually have a bunch of big, mobile guys that they can throw at Giannis (Deni, Rui, Kuzma and maybe a little of Gafford). If nothing else, they have a lot of fouls to give, and Giannis is shooting just 64% from the FT line.

I can't believe I'm saying this, but the Wizards match up pretty well and I kinda like their chances. I'm not predicting a win, but it wouldn't surprise me either.

One big problem is that the Bucks are awesome at shutting down the paint, and fairly bad and defending the 3-point line. We are not ideally suited to attack that since we are fairly good at getting to the rim and fairly bad at shooting 3's.

[FAH1223]

The Wizards actually have a bunch of big, mobile guys that they can throw at Giannis (Deni, Rui, Kuzma and maybe a little of Gafford). If nothing else, they have a lot of fouls to give, and Giannis is shooting just 64% from the FT line.

I can't believe I'm saying this, but the Wizards match up pretty well and I kinda like their chances. I'm not predicting a win, but it wouldn't surprise me either.

One big problem is that the Bucks are awesome at shutting down the paint, and fairly bad and defending the 3-point line. We are not ideally suited to attack that since we are fairly good at getting to the rim and fairly bad at shooting 3's.

And one of the criticisms of Budenholzer is that... no matter what he will only play drop coverage. We saw it with the Celtics series in May and they were willingly let Grant Williams shoot all of the 3s he could take and it obviously proved fatal.

[FAH1223]

Lisa Byington who is the Bucks play-by-play announcer with Christy calling Creighton-DePaul on FOX.

Cash those checks, ladies!

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[Chocolate City Jordanaire]

Rui has had pretty good moments vs Giannis. Giannis cannot cover KP at the top and DG in the dunker spot at the same time. The Bucks probably had a nice New Years not thinking about a 16-21 team.

I expect the refs will call a ton of fouls on both Gafford and Advija.

[Chocolate City Jordanaire]

Portis might grab 20 rebounds. I see this as a loss. KP won’t be able to patrol the paint. The only way I see a win is if Kuzma goes off.

Bucks 118
Wizards 109

[Ruzious]

The Wizards actually have a bunch of big, mobile guys that they can throw at Giannis (Deni, Rui, Kuzma and maybe a little of Gafford). If nothing else, they have a lot of fouls to give, and Giannis is shooting just 64% from the FT line.

I can't believe I'm saying this, but the Wizards match up pretty well and I kinda like their chances. I'm not predicting a win, but it wouldn't surprise me either.

One big problem is that the Bucks are awesome at shutting down the paint, and fairly bad and defending the 3-point line. We are not ideally suited to attack that since we are fairly good at getting to the rim and fairly bad at shooting 3's.

Yeah, this is a trap game for the Bucks. I can see them having fits covering Porzingis and Kuzma - Portis is a poor defender, and Lopez just stays inside. Without Middleton and Hill, they are Uber-reliant on Giannis (as if they aren't even with them), and he can be contained when triple-teamed (who can't?).

As an aside - I still can't stand Allen - he's a dirty player - not as dirty as he was at Duke but a spade is a spade.

[tleikheen]

I dont see Connaughton slowing down Kuzma and Rui can have a good game against the Bucks bench , Bucks like to play big but Wizards are bigger throughout the lineup. Upset 111 to 107

[BearlyBallin]

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[9 and 20]

Already calling DNP-Rest as player of the game. 141-106 victory.

[nate33]

A win tonight puts the Wizards in 10th place in the East, 1 game out of 9th and 3.5 games out of 6th.

[FAH1223]

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[long suffrin' boulez fan]

The Wiz will lose because this will be the first game of the last five that I’ll watch.

[CntOutSmrtCrazy]

The Wiz will lose because this will be the first game of the last five that I’ll watch.

Thank you for your service.

[Chocolate City Jordanaire]

T220.5
Bucks (only) -1.5

Vegas is starting to respond to recent Wizards wins.

[SUPERBALLMAN]

Gotta like the way Gafford has been playing. And Delon Wright since his comeback from injury.

[CntOutSmrtCrazy]

Looked like a goaltend there.

[Frichuela]

Looked like a goaltend there.

Agreed. Some home cooking by the referees…

[Frichuela]

The Bucks fouling hard…

[SUPERBALLMAN]

The Bucks fouling hard…

Scouting report on Wizards get physical and they’ll fold.