Regular Season Game 22
Wizards (11-10) at Pistons (14-6)
December 1, 2017 at 7:00 PM Capital One Arena | Washington, D.C. TV: NBCSW Radio: 1500 AM
What to Watch: Contenders or Pretenders
The Detroit Pistons are the surprise team in the Eastern Conference this season as they are second in the standings ahead of the Cleveland Cavaliers at the quarter point in the season. Washington has dealt Detroit one of their six losses on the year in the second game of the season so the Pistons are certainly beatable. Now without John Wall, if the Wizards are able to pull off the same feat, they could begin to show that Detroit is not as good as their current record indicates. Then again, the Pistons could be the real deal and it could be the Wizards who are pretending as if the playoffs started now, Washington would be tied with New York for the eighth playoff spot.
Key Matchup:
Andre Drummond vs. Marcin Gortat
It seems like just months ago that the Pistons uber athletic center was potentially available via trade, but the sixth year veteran is now beginning to peak again. Through 20 games, Drummond is averaging 14.3 points, 15.2 rebounds, 3.7 assists, 1.5 steals, and 1.2 blocks per game. That is stat stuffing to the max. Two games ago when Detroit the Celtics in Boston, Drummond put up 26 points, 22 rebounds, 6 assists, and 4 steals in 40 minutes. Gortat, as well as Ian Mahinmi, are going to have to limit the big man in the middle if Washington wants any chance of competing.
X-Factor:
Will The Real Keef Morris Please Stand Up?
Friday's game will be exactly 10 weeks after Morris had his surgery to repair a sports hernia and four weeks after he made his season debut. He is more or less without any minutes restriction, but he still does not look like the same force that helped Washington reel off a 17-game home winning streak last season. In 14 games, Morris is averaging 9 points on 42.1 percent shooting to go along with 4.4 rebounds and 1.1 assists. In the past two games, he has 9 points on 4 of 15 shooting in 38 minutes and was not asked to play in the fourth quarter despite both being close games.
Fun Factor:
Stan Van Gundy
One of the better head coaches in the league, Van Gundy is also very self aware on social issues. Last time the 58-year old came to D.C., he talked for over two minutes about NFL players' protests during the national anthem, which you can watch below. Last year, he sweated so much through his shirt that he declined to speak to the media after the game. SVG can both preach on serious issues as well as provide amusement.
Prediction:
Washington sends the home crowd onto their Friday night plans on a high note as they slay the surprise Eastern Conference contender.