Brandon Scott here, the host of the daily Locked On Wizards podcast, with your daily Locked On Wizards newsletter. Each day we bring you the biggest stories about the Wizards and the NBA, including the hottest links to other stories you need to read. Plus, Josh Lloyd delivers daily fantasy notes to crush your league.
The Wizards head into game one of a five-game road trip. The first stop, Memphis.
Memphis, Tennessee. The home of Elvis, FedEx, dry rub BBQ, and Three Six Mafia. The Grizzlies also reside in the city and at 5-4, are trying to compete in a loaded and talent-rich Western Conference. They have their fair share of injuries, including Ja Morant, Desmond Bane, and Marcus Smart. The 2-4 Wizards are also dealing with injuries in their own right. Kyle Kuzma misses another game and Malcolm Brogdon has progressed but remains out also. Saddiq Bey, don’t expect to see him for a while. This looks like a winnable game for the Wiz-Kidz. Let’s get into my three keys to victory.
(3 Keys to victory)
1. Shoot the lights out from three.
Most of their talent is in the frontcourt due to injuries (Jackson Jr and Edey). The Wizards should spread the floor and force Edey and Jackson Jr to come out to the parameter, which opens up back door cuts. Expect big games from Sarr and George because they are more swift than Jackson Jr or Edey.
2. Let the three open up opportunities.
Let the opportunities on the parameter set up the pick and roll, pick and pop, and back door cuts. With Ja Morant and Marcus Smart being out, this provides Jordan Poole a chance to drop a 40-piece chicken nugget on the Grizzlies.
3. Win the paint
The Grizzlies are 3rd in rebounding and have a formable duo in Jaren Jackson Jr and Rookie Zach Edey. The Wizards have their hands full but can counteract by opening the offense and bringing them out to them.
The Nuggets did it (Nikola Jokic did it), the Warriors did it (the death lineup and defensive efficiency), the Celtics did it (switching one through five, pre-switching, neutralizing open lanes), and now the Thunder are doing it.
It’s been described as pestering, smothering, swarming, but I‘d like to put “car wash” into consideration. That’s the set up awaiting opponents. The car (the opposing team) gets locked into those self-driving tracks and the gauntlet begins. Lu Dort and Alex Caruso appear as those cylindrical spinning brushes, stripping the ball outright and early or else funnelling players into the next wave of guards. Pressure continues from Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and Jaylen Williams but it becomes more targeted, thinking of the jet streams of water now being directed at the car from every angle — and those spinning whirlwinds of Caruso and Dort haven’t relented.
If, somehow, an opposing player finds a sliver of daylight in the so-small-its-micro-ball switching scheme the Thunder are playing, if they manage to get out from the many hands reaching in, pressuring, forcing turnovers, then they will meet Chet Holmgren at the rim. Holmgren is like those long, slapping shammy tentacles that come down on the hood, sides and roof of the car from every angle, though his reach and hands are much more expertly deployed. The Thunder have a defensive rating of 96.5 (for context the Warriors, at second best, seem light-years behind with a respectable 103.8) and lead the league in steals (13.4) and blocks (7.3). The cars are coming out spotless, utterly worked.
Katie Heindl is a credentialed NBA and WNBA writer, her bylines have appeared with The New York Times Magazine, SLAM, The Athletic, Yahoo Sports, Dime, Rolling Stone, among others. She writes the bestselling Substack, Basketball Feelings and is working on a book of the same name.
Home and Away
Preview Washington Wizards face the Memphis Grizzlies in a crucial matchup, aiming to improve their early season performance and capitalize on their strengths.(Bullets Forever)
Analysis The Washington Wizards’ early season struggles are dissected, with focus on team dynamics and potential improvements for better results. (Bullets Forever)
Watch Defense wins games? Here’s an insightful breakdown of OKC’s defensive schemes. (Thinking Basketball)
Must Read The Influence of Sedona Price: Take a fascinating look at the domino effect of NIL on college athletics, women’s sports, social media and athlete health. (The New Yorker)
Fantasy Cheat Sheet
Fantasy Cheat Sheet
Fantasy Basketball Impact of Miles Bridges’ Injury
Charlotte Hornets forward Miles Bridges (0) holds his knee after a collision at the basket against the Detroit Pistons during the second half at Spectrum Center.|Photo by Jim Dedmon-Imagn Images
With only three games on Thursday, there was ample time to delve into the latest injury news and its implications for fantasy managers.
Injury Updates and Their Impact
Miles Bridges’ knee injury is a significant concern. After initially returning to play, he’s now sidelined for at least two weeks with a knee bone bruise. This situation opens up opportunities for other players. With Nick Richards and Mark Williams also out, Taj Gibson steps in as the starting centre. Grant Williams, who has been getting centre minutes, will likely shift to playing more at the four, alongside Tidjane Salaun. This reshuffling could push Williams into a more prominent role, making him a potential pick-up in 12-team leagues.
The absence of Bridges also means increased usage for Brandon Miller and LaMelo Ball. Tre Mann is another player to watch; holding onto him could be beneficial as the team adjusts to these injuries.
Ja Morant’s hamstring injury is another blow, with expectations of a two-week absence. Memphis’ injury reporting is notoriously vague, so fantasy managers should prepare for an extended period without Morant. Tyrese Maxey’s situation is similar, with the Sixers indicating a reevaluation in a week, but realistically, it could be longer. Kyle Lowry is a suitable replacement in the meantime.
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