In what was their first game with all five starters, the Bucks unleashed a fervor of energy as they were able to outlast the Cleveland Cavaliers in double overtime Saturday night. Flash forward to today, and unfortunately we won’t be able to say the same. The Bucks will be without Jabari Parker, who was diagnosed with a sprained right foot and did not travel with the team to Washington for the beginning of their three-game road trip. It was fun for the one game that it lasted, but the Bucks will have to wait a little more for their next game with their actual starting five.
photo: Benny Sieu, USA Today Sports
If you are still riding high from the Bucks’ thrilling defeat of Cleveland last Saturday night, you have a reason to be. The defensive performance from that game brought back memories of last season, a season in which the Bucks were ranked second in the league in defensive rating. They were able to accomplish what they did so well last season, and that was creating turnovers. Hopefully this continues tonight and in the future, as without it, the Bucks seem like a team that is dazed and confused out on the court. Look for the Bucks to force a similar style of pressure as they did to Cleveland a few nights ago.
As for the Wizards, they seemed to be the most efficient when Bradley Beal and John Wall form a brick wall of a tandem, making the Washington offense flow with a fluent rhythm. With John Wall running the ship at point guard, the Wizards boast a speedy offense, resulting in the second-fastest pace in the league. Washington is top ten in the league in the category of assist points created, signifying their craftsmanship of working the floor and distributing the basketball. Expect John Wall to inevitably rack up a high number of assists tonight against Milwaukee.
Shooting guard Bradley Beal has been at the top of the scoring totem pole in Washington, as he’s averaging 22.7 points per game. However, his status for tonight’s game is unknown, meaning it may be former Buck Ramon Sessions receiving the start, but it would most likely be Garrett Temple. If Beal does in fact sit out tonight’s game, keep an eye out for some other possible Wizards to step up and contribute, one being Otto Porter. Selected by Washington with the third overall pick in the 2013 Draft, he is finally beginning to fulfill some of the visions that they saw when they made their pick. Feared by some Washington fans as becoming a possible bust, Porter has picked up some of the slack and has risen to the Wizards’ third-highest points-per-game leader. Look for him to take a fair amount of shots if Beal is, in fact, out.
Milwaukee Bucks (5-5, 2-2 Away) vs Washington Wizards (4-4, 2-2 Home)
November 17, 2015
Verizon Center | Washington, D.C.
6:00 CT
Fox Sports Wisconsin | AM 620 WTMJ
Probable Starters
Milwaukee Bucks
PG Michael Carter-Williams
SG Khris Middleton
SF Giannis Antetokounmpo
PF Johnny O’Bryant
C Greg Monroe
Washington Wizards
PG John Wall
SG Garrett Temple
SF Otto Porter
PF Kris Humphries
C Marcin Gortat