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 2-15 Wizards head into Cream City for Jordan Poole’s homecoming game but will home cooking work?
This will be a homecoming game for Wizards Star Point Guard Jordan Poole and the young Wiz-Kidz would love to sneak a victory for JP13 but the Milwaukee Bucks stand in their way. They are old but seasoned and like any 2 AM Taco Bell snack, can sneak up on you when you least suspect. The Greek Freak is back at doing what he does best, taking over games. He is currently averaging 32 points a game and 12 rebounds per game. Damian Lillard is leading the way with 7.7 assists per game so this will be a very tough matchup for the Wizards. Let’s get into my three keys to development for Saturday’s game in Milwaukee.
My three keys to development-
1. Defense, especially interior defense
The Bucks are 16th in the Association in scoring and the Wizards are 29th in points allowed so being on the same page as a team defensively behooves the Wiz-Kidz. I would force the Greek Freak to the outside and make him earn it by jump shooting which is the flaw in his game. Using charges as a way to get him into foul trouble would be ideal.
2. Ball movement and high percentage execution
The Bucks are the 12th-best defensive team in the NBA, and a lot of that has to do with Giannis Antetokoumpo but Brook Lopez and Delon Wright are good defenders in their own right. I would attack from the parameter and utilize the pick and roll, and the pick and pop combo of Poole and Sarr/Valanciunas.
3. Rebounding
Outside of defense, rebounding is the biggest issue that the Wizards have. Winning the paint should be a must if the Wizards want to have a chance in this game. The matchup I’m looking at is Sarr vs Lopez. Can Alex Sarr hold his own vs the crafty vet in Brook Lopez?
Prediction- Wizards win (We all love home cooking)
Nov 27, 2024; Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA; Minnesota Timberwolves guard Anthony Edwards (5) reacts to a call against the Sacramento Kings in the third quarter at Target Center. Mandatory Credit: Brad Rempel-Imagn Images | Brad Rempel/Brad Rempel-Imagn Images
Anthony Edwards went off on Wednesday night, and it wasn’t in the game.
The Timberwolves star had a lot of frustration to share after Minnesota lost to the Kings, and tallied their fourth straight loss in a row.
“We thought defense was our identity, and it’s not looking like that,” Edwards said in the locker room. “Our identity right now, me and Mike [Conley] was talking about it, I think is we soft as hell as a team, internally. Not to the other team, but like internally we soft, like we can’t talk to each other. Just a bunch of little kids, just like we playing with a bunch of little kids. Like everybody, like the whole team, we just can’t talk to each other and we gotta figure it out, man, because we can’t go down this road.”
He spoke at length, not holding much back, but the most interesting flag came in Edwards comments about the team as a whole. He noted that everyone on the team had their “own agenda”, which made it particularly difficult for him, as the de facto leader, to get them on the same page. Wolves beat reporter for the Star Tribune, Chris Hine, said Edwards lamented the team was “growing apart”, partly because it felt so difficult to have honest conversations with teammates.
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
Biz Former Timberwolves GM and current president of Paris Basketball David Kahn predicts the NBA will be in Europe “within two years” (EuroHoops)
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Roster No. 2 overall pick Alex Sarr has been a bright spot for the team this season, but still has plenty to work on in his game. (Sports Illustrated)
Must Read The Wizards have only won two games this season, and it’s starting to wear on the team. (The Athletic, subscription required)
LaMelo Ball Is Out On Friday - What Are The Fantasy Basketball Implications?
Nov 27, 2024; Charlotte, North Carolina, USA; Charlotte Hornets guard LaMelo Ball (1) reacts after scoring a three point basket during the first half against the Miami Heat at the Spectrum Center. Mandatory Credit: Sam Sharpe-Imagn Images | Sam Sharpe/Sam Sharpe-Imagn Images
As we gear up for a packed NBA schedule, it’s crucial to stay ahead of the game with the latest injury updates and strategic streaming options. With ten games on the horizon, there’s plenty to consider for your fantasy basketball lineup.
Injury Updates and Streaming Strategies
The New York Knicks and Charlotte Hornets face off in an early game, and the injury report has thrown a few curveballs. Precious Achiuwa and Mitchell Robinson are out for the Knicks, while the Hornets are missing key players like Mark Williams, Nick Richards, and Miles Bridges. The unexpected absence of LaMelo Ball due to a calf issue adds another layer of complexity. With Ball sidelined, Vasa Micic becomes a prime streaming target, offering value for both Friday and Saturday games. Keep an eye on Jalen Brunson, who seems to be finding his rhythm again, which is a positive sign for fantasy managers.
On the Cleveland Cavaliers and Atlanta Hawks front, Darius Garland’s recent dip in usage and shooting is worth monitoring. Meanwhile, Trae Young’s impressive assist numbers continue to shine, despite some Achilles concerns. For streaming, Ty Jerome is a viable option if Dean Wade and Caris LeVert remain out, while DeAndre Hunter offers potential upside for the Hawks.
