Regular Season Game 38
Knicks (18-18) at Wizards (21-16)
January 2, 2018 at 7:00 PM Capital One Arena | Washington, D.C.
TV: NBCSW Radio: 1500 AM
Odds: WSH -8.5
What to Watch:
A little bit of an extended win streak to kick off 2018?
The first trimester of the season was quite the turbulent one for the Wizards. With literally no pattern of consistent success or failure, the Wizards go into the New Year winners of 21 games, but also losers to 10 teams of a far more inferior state than them. Those losses have been no less than indefensible, and the key factor to my indigestion.
But as 2017 came to a close, the Wizards actually displayed a glitch of consistency, winning two games in a row - against the NBA's top team, the Houston Rockets, and then a resilient victory over the 13-24 Bulls.
Tonight, the Wizards will have a chance to tie their season-high longest win streak of three games by defeating the New York Knicks, and hopefully break whatever spell of inconsistency that has been daunting them until now.
Key Matchup:
The Wizards vs. Post-Holiday Fever
While the Wizards do hope to tally their win streak to three in their first game of 2018, it likely won't be as easy as one would figure. Games like tonight have the mere propensity to blow back on the Wizards, for a variety of causes:
First game in two nights.
First game after New Year's.
First game against the New York Knicks, who, on paper, should be a team the Wizards can handedly beat. But, of course, therein lies the fear. Not only is there a danger of the Wizards coming out sluggish after the New Year holiday, there's also the everlasting mind game that inferior teams play on the Wizards where they feel like just going through the motions will be enough to get them through the game with a win.
That obviously has not been a great strategy. Just ask the Nets, Lakers, Clippers, Jazz, Hawks, Suns, Mavs, and Hornets.
X-Factor:
Containing Kanter
While Kristaps Porzingis may be the lead actor on Broadway, Enes Kanter is undoubtedly one the league's best supporting actors. Balling out with a team-best 23.6 PER, Kanter is a walking game plan for opposing coaches, and for Scott Brooks tonight, defending him is the X-factor.
Kanter hasn't produced otherworldly numbers in recent games, but his performance against Philly on Christmas Day was badass enough to prove what he is capable of on any given night. Kanter finished that game scoring 31 points and grabbing 22 rebounds (11 offensive!) despite a Knicks loss.
Kanter's lankiness enables him to stride effortlessly whether in the high or low post, aptly wiping out his defenders who try to press against him. His length is good enough to grab loose balls off the rim at will. And his emotions and will are infectious to the rest of the team. The Wizards will certainly have their hands full trying to contain Kanter.
Fun Factor:
Ron Baker's Hair
This is how Northern Iowa students taunted Ron Baker during his college freshman days at Wichita State.
Now we know that Baker's hair has converted from the previous golden mothballs to what now looks like a young Owen Wilson, but still, we shouldn't hesitate to steal any ideas, Wizards fans.
Prediction:
If I am any player on the Wizards, I'm still burning over the embarrassing Hawks loss. The Wizards likely are, considering their subsequent two wins over the Rockets and Bulls. Who knows, maybe internally that loss did rile this team up, and maybe they're still riled up. Feeding off that hope, I like the Wizards tonight.