GT #9: Grizzlies @ Bullets 7 PM (NBCSW/980 AM) [11/5/21]

[FAH1223]

YOUR Washington Bullets are 5-3 and on their first losing streak!

What a disaster the offense looks these days! The Bullets can't make open 3s, teams are playing zone and packing the paint, and there is so much wasted motion leading to bad ISO posessions. Our new $54M PG is disappearing for stretches, our star SG turns it over or dribbles into 3 defenders, our #9 overall pick in 2020 can't shoot FTs, and on and on and on.

The Raptors clamped down on Wednesday and never looked back after establishing a double digit advantage in the 2nd quarter. Wes Unseld Jr. while crediting the Raps called the lack of effort and focus inexcusable. A damning indictment from the 1st year coach.

Friday night they welcome another tough-nosed defensive team in the Memphis Grizzlies. 3rd year star Ja Morant has led the Grizz to a 5-3 start and he looks determined to get his team in the postseason outright this season. They're coming off a big win against the Nuggets.

Will the Bullets lose again to the Grizz? It's been awhile since we've seen the Bullets beat this squad. Morant and Adams PNR looks like it'll wreck intense havoc on the improved Washington defense. Can the streak end?


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




Projected Lineups :










Bench:

[long suffrin' boulez fan]

I hate to say this because I don’t love his game, but I think we need more Aaron Holiday against elite PGs like Morant and Van Vleet.

He’s unique among our guards in pressuring the ball on the perimeter and stopping penetration.

[dobrojim]

IIRC, they whupped us soundly 2x last year. As such my expectations for this game are low.

[VCfor3]

IIRC, they whupped us soundly 2x last year. As such my expectations for this game are low.

Brooks defending Beal was a big part of that for us. He is out and our team has been very hit and miss on defense. I think it should be a fun game that can easily go either way.

[tontoz]

Morant has gotten off to a huge start, 27/7 with a TS of 60%.

[CntOutSmrtCrazy]

Yeah if we come out with the same energy as we did versus TOR, and to a lesser degree ATL, we are going to get our rears handed to us.

Any word on Kuz?

[Frichuela]

Challenging game. It all depends on whether we go back to basis: focus & aggression on D and ball movement offensively. It is key that Dinwiddie plays with energy and not lethargic like last game...

[VCfor3]

We have two Titans battling it out tonight for the throne. I'm talking about Beal and Steven Adams of course. They are the last two still shooting 100% from the free throw line on the season with at least a few attempts. Will one psych the other out and cause a miss? Tune in to find out.

[GoneShammGone]

We have two Titans battling it out tonight for the throne. I'm talking about Beal and Steven Adams of course. They are the last two still shooting 100% from the free throw line on the season with at least a few attempts. Will one psych the other out and cause a miss? Tune in to find out.

Well thanks, you just jinxed both of them!

I've been quietly watching this myself, too scared to say anything about Brad. FWIW, Raul Neto is 7-7, dark horse FT% champ candidate...

[ducler]

Read on Twitter

[thebigE]

Fillin it tonight

[CntOutSmrtCrazy]

Our bounce looks better thus far. Glad to see the team not settling for early threes. Kuz had a couple looks he probably would have launched in prior games but looked to drive and kick.

[Chocolate City Jordanaire]

Very encouraging to see Beal with 4 assists in quarter one and also eight points.

The bad part is the Wizards shot lights out but they're only up by four

“Love without limits, dream without fear and live in the moment.“

[CntOutSmrtCrazy]

Nice to see the energy back after being absent the last two. Ball movement has been solid and Deni is once again doing the little things. If he can get the scoring together, he'll add some good upside to this team.

[Benjammin]

Is it too much to ask Deni to shoot better from the ft line?

Sent from my motorola edge plus using RealGM mobile app

[80sballboy]

I don't care what age you are, if you are not 7-5, there's no reason to shoot under 70% from the line if you are an NBA player.

[80sballboy]

You can see Memphis is not the same team without Dilon Brooks. He has killed us in the past. Not to continue to pile on Beal, but the defensive effort (not just him) was poor most of the first quarter and I know dude is running point with Spence out, but stop trying to make every pass a home run.

[80sballboy]

On a good note, Beal is not forcing 3s. He's taking it to the rim with success.

[CntOutSmrtCrazy]

Neto is playing great this year on a minimum contract.

[80sballboy]

Neto is back. Nice finish there.