GT #58: Wizards @ Raptors 7:30 PM (NBCSW/1500 AM)

[Kanyewest]

Washington enters this one with a guarantee that they will not win 50+ games for the 40th season in a row. This is likely going to be the first season since 2012-13 where the Wizards will not finish above .500 unless they close out with a 18-7 record.

In the meantime, the Raptors just signed Jeremy Lin, freshly waived from the Atlanta Hawks. The Raptors do not have Kawhi although Toronto has already beaten Washington without them earlier in the season when the Wizards still had top 5 playoff aspirations.

Keys to the game:

Will the Wizards actually play well to start the game? The Wizards have typically fell behind by double digits until Bobby Portis enters the game

Which Jabari Parker will show up? After averaging 7.5 assists per game in his first two games, Parker managed only 2 assists which was still more than the number of points he had.

Can Brooks manage effective rotations? Jordan McRae was effective coming off the bench although his minutes could be cut Satoransky back in the lineup. People were calling for Ian Mahinmi to play against Drummond. Will Wizards fans regret that sentiment if he plays against Marc Gasol?



Bonus:
How much much can the Wizards improve their draft position? Right now they currently have a 7.5% chance of winning the lottery

[ducler]

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[Ruzious]

Washington enters this one with a guarantee that they will not win 50+ games for the 40th season in a row. This is likely going to be the first season since 2012-13 where the Wizards will not finish above .500 unless they close 18-7.

In the meantime the Raptors just signed Jeremy Lin, freshly waived from the Atlanta Hawks. The Raptors do not have Kawhi although Toronto has already beaten Washington without them earlier in the season when Washington still had top 5 playoff aspirations.

Keys to the game:

Will the Wizards actually play well to start the game? The Wizards have typically fell behind by double digits until Bobby Portisenter the game
The Wiz are an awful road team playing up north and without their point guards - assuming Sato is out. They will fall behind by 20 points in the first quarter.

Which Jabari Parker will show up? After averaging 7.5 assists per game in his first two games, Parker managed only 2 assists which was still more than the number of points he had.
He is going against as good a defensive group of forwards as there are in the NBA - including OG off the bench. All answers point to No. He will shoot 2 for 10 from the field and have 1 assist.


Can Brooks manage effective rotations? Jordan McRae was effective coming off the bench although his minutes could be cut Satoransky back in the lineup. People were calling for Ian Mahinmi to play against Drummond. Will Wizards fans regret that sentiment if he plays against Marc Gasol?
If Mahinmi does play, the same people who said he should have played against Detroit will say Brooks lacked foresight with his decision to play Mahinmi against Toronto.


Bonus:
How much much can the Wizards improve their draft position? Right now they currently have a 7.5% chance of winning the lottery
None. The lottery is fixed by the accounting firm of Dewey Cheatam and Howe.

Please see answer key above in red.

[Eli Babak]

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If Toronto manages to lose this then ****.

[MarcoPolo]

LOL he looks terrified in this picture

[truwizfan4evr]

just start parker and portis already. i don't care what anyway says. they give us the best chance to win games.

[MarcoPolo]

Pascal Siakam does what Griffin did to them. Amazing development by him.

[Chocolate City Jordanaire]

Wizards were up 80-68.

Toronto has scored 15straight. Now it is 80-83

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[Chocolate City Jordanaire]

Worst this board has ever been.

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[Dark Faze]

i think a lot of us expected an L and decided to skip it lol, pleasantly surprised we're still in this and the new kids are doing are alright

[TheBabyMaker]

Siakam looks like Durant out there.

[Chocolate City Jordanaire]

i think a lot of us expected an L and decided to skip it lol, pleasantly surprised we're still in this and the new kids are doing are alright

Not any more. Toronto has blown up.

They've shot a dozen free throws in quarter three.

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[Chocolate City Jordanaire]

Siakim has 33 points through three quarters.

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[80sballboy]

Strange game. Gasol has been awful as a shooter but makes up for it with his passing. Parker has rebounded with a strong game. Tough to make up for the fact that Randle and McRae have had to play a lot of point guard with Sato out. That third quarter run by Toronto was incredible yet the Wiz are not out of it.

[80sballboy]

Beal has played 35 minutes. I guess the only chance for the Wiz to win is for him to go 44 and play point guard.

[Chocolate City Jordanaire]

Wizards back to within 3 after just being down 10.

Beal, Johnson, Green, Parker, Portis

The new death lineup

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[80sballboy]

just start parker and portis already. i don't care what anyway says. they give us the best chance to win games.

Jeff Green and Trevor Ariza have combined for 39 points, 12 rebounds and eight assists. I would say they deserve to start as well. What's wrong with having a strong bench? At some point, they'll start one of them.

[Chocolate City Jordanaire]

Jabari Parker doesn't suck.

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[80sballboy]

I know it's just one game but Gasol doesn't seem to fit this team. They are so athletic and he isn't.

[JWizmentality]

I honestly think Brooks just forgets TOs are a part of the game.