(Photo: AP Photo/Brandon Dill)
Regular Season Game 27
Grizzlies (8-19) at Wizards (14-13)
December 13, 2017 at 7:00 PM Capital One Arena | Washington, D.C. TV: NBCSW Radio: 1500 AM
What to Watch: The Long-Awaited Return of John Wall
After 9 games of not being in the starting lineup, John Wall and the Wizards return to the nation's capital from their 5 game road trip as they face the Memphis Grizzlies. The Wizards, who went 4-5 during their road trip out west (and Brooklyn), will get their star point guard back, who is coming from a knee injury. Although Tim Frazier provided solid minutes for the starters, Wall's leadership is a significant factor in making sure that the Wizards can potentially snap their three game losing streak and avoid being .500.
Key Matchup:
Marcin Gortat vs. Marc Gasol
Memphis is without Mike Conley, a big reason why they have lost 15 of their last 16, so that leaves the matchup in the paint as one that will be competitive. Gasol has evolved his game to include three-point shooting that was a dagger into the Wizards' heart early last season. If Gortat can just contain the Spanish big, that is a win, but Washington also needs the Polish Machine back on track.
X-Factor:
Otto Porter Jr.
During the game against the Nets, Otto scored 11 points on 5-13 shooting, which is subpar compared to his other performances that he has provided throughout the season. In order for the Wizards to be successful throughout this season, Otto will need to contribute on a high level on offense in a consistent manner. If Otto gets it going early in the game, the Wizards will be in great shape.
Fun Factor:
Start the Bench?
During the game against the Nets, the Wizards bench all had a positive +/- on the court, while the starters all had a negative +/-, which is strange considering that the bench usually does the opposite of what they did in Brooklyn. With John Wall being back, I would expect the Wizards starters to have a better performance at home against the Grizzlies.
Prediction:
Coming home from a long road trip especially out in the West is always a sigh of relief. In addition, having a veteran presence in Wall helps as well as he gets used to playing consistently on a high level. Look for the Wizards to win this one at home and snap their three game losing streak.