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The Wizards drop a hard-fought game to the Pacers but can home cooking get them back on track?
OCEAN YARAAY
As the Wizards head back to DC following their 115-103 loss to the Pacers in the Hoosier State, the Wizards will look to get back on track with a back-to-back coming up with the Bulls and Clippers coming into town but in a sense, they win either way. The Wizards are currently 2-13 and are the worst team in the NBA. While getting the 1st overall pick in the 2025 NBA Draft is the goal, the young Wiz-Kidz got back to what they do best despite having a talent gap against most teams, playing hard and playing to win. Let’s get into the good, the bad, and the ugly from Sunday night’s game vs the Indiana Pacers.
The Good - Alex Sarr
Alex Sarr gave us a glimpse of what to expect when he finally figures it out offensively and consistently. He scored 17 points on 7-15 from the field and added 14 rebounds. He’s already a really good rim protector. If he can show more consistency on offense, this team will be cooking with hot grease, especially long-term.
The Bad - Malcolm Brogdon
The bad is not really bad in a sense. I like Brogdon, and if we weren’t in a rebuild, I’d love to have him in DC. I feel the same way about Kyle Kuzma but the NBA is a business and business is about to get started for the Wizards Front Office. GM Will Dawkins is about to cook like Gordan Ramsey. Brogdon looked good again last night, dropping 15 points and 5 assists. As long as he can stay healthy, his trade value will continue to climb and the Wizards should capitalize at the trade deadline.
The Ugly - The Defense
The defense sucked again. The Pacers shot 47% from the field, 44% from three, and scored 56 points in the paint. Switches were slow and they failed to close out to shooters. They also struggled to communicate defensively and it led to obvious frustrations. They have to get back to team basketball on defense or a long season will become an even longer season.
It was the three second violation heard round the world. Kidding, but it was strange enough that you looked to confirmation of what you were seeing to those around you, and/or rewatched the replay of it several times.
Posted up under the Raptors basket, Rudy Gobert had Scottie Barnes on his back in a mismatch and was calling to Julius Randle for the ball. Beyond the arc. Randle dribbled the ball, unhurried, as the shot clock ticked down. He’s eyeing the lane, would clearly prefer to drive, and even plants a foot to take off from when the whistle finally comes for Gobert, strolling out of the key nonchalantly, with all the urgency you’d approach a dental appointment.
Still frustrated, Gobert then needlessly hip-checked Barnes at the other end, sending him to the line and sending the Raptors up in the match and in momentum. Toronto won 110-105.
You can take your pick for what’s more worrisome, because the perspective shifts depending on the root of a few problems the Wolves face.
That Gobert opted to showboat his frustration is definitely the most obvious, in terms of visibility. It isn’t the first time he’s let his petulant side out on the floor. That Randle saw Gobert — impossible not to with his long arm up and waving — and chose to ignore him, dribbling the ball into oblivion instead, is another concern. The biggest question around the Randle and Karl-Anthony Towns trade was fit — for playing style and chemistry. A slight detail that nearly gets lost in the sequence is that Jaden McDaniels hustled for a really long rebound, swung it to Randle, and the urgency of that move was immediately sapped by what transpired.
Taken individually, these would be wrinkles for a working team to smooth by the next match. And yes, both Randle and Gobert addressed the sequence, with Randle prompting media to “name a perfect family” and Gobert saying “people think great teams are the teams where the sky is always blue”. Normally, I’d enjoy an athlete beginning with a euphemism, in this case, it feels like aversion.
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
Analysis The statistical analysis of the Wizards’ game against the Pacers highlights key performance metrics and strategic insights into the team’s dynamics and decisions. (Bullets Forever)
Replay In a detailed game recap, the Wizards’ performance against the Pacers is meticulously reviewed, showcasing pivotal moments and player highlights. (Bullets Forever)
Legacy Nikola Jokic continues to redefine basketball creativity with his full-court swat attempt against the Lakers, nearly achieving an incredible buzzer-beater despite the constraints of the Trent Tucker rule. (CBS Sports)
Biz NBA Hall of Famer Grant Hill discusses his investment in women’s sports and managing Team USA, highlighting his active retirement and commitment to sports development. (The Ringer NBA Show)
Rumor Western Conference coaches and executives are reportedly frustrated with the East’s playoff picture, suggesting a shift to a 1-16 seeding format to enhance fairness and competition. (Bleacher Report)
Fantasy Cheat Sheet
Ja Morant Is Set To Return And Impact Fantasy Basketball Leagues
Nov 17, 2024; Memphis, Tennessee, USA; Memphis Grizzlies guard Ja Morant (12) takes videos with his phone after the game against the Denver Nuggets at FedExForum. Mandatory Credit: Petre Thomas-Imagn Images | Petre Thomas/Petre Thomas-Imagn Images
As we wrap up another thrilling week in the NBA, it’s time to reflect on the standout performances and crucial player updates that could impact your fantasy basketball strategy. With six games on the slate this past Sunday, there was no shortage of action and intrigue.
Player Updates and Injury News
One of the most significant updates this week involves Ja Morant, who has been upgraded to questionable. The Memphis Grizzlies have a consistent pattern of moving players from doubtful to questionable before they return to play, so Morant’s return seems imminent. Marcus Smart is also off the injury report, ready to make his comeback. However, the Grizzlies are still without Vince Williams Jr., who is sidelined for weeks, and Zach Edey.
In New Orleans, the return of key players is on the horizon. While Herb Jones remains out, Jordan Hawkins is back, and CJ McCollum is expected to play soon. Dejounte Murray has been upgraded to doubtful, indicating he might return later this week. These returns will undoubtedly shake up the rotations and fantasy implications for players like BJ Boston and ElfridPayton.
The Oklahoma City Thunder have been idle since Wednesday, and Alex Caruso, who aggravated a hip injury, is out again. This extended absence is concerning for fantasy managers holding Caruso. Meanwhile, Ousmane Dieng’s fractured finger will keep him out for three to four weeks, opening up reserve minutes for Dillon Jones until Jaylin Williams returns.
