Wiz of Awes
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Washington Wizards: Wizards keys to Heat or Bucks playoff series

By Jen Julie Smith

WASHINGTON, DC -  DECEMBER 10: John Wall #2 of the Washington Wizards drives to the basket against Giannis Antetokounmpo #34 of the Milwaukee Bucks during the game on December 10, 2016 at Verizon Center in Washington, DC. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2016 NBAE (Photo by Ned Dishman/NBAE via Getty Images)
WASHINGTON, DC -  DECEMBER 10: John Wall #2 of the Washington Wizards drives to the basket against Giannis Antetokounmpo #34 of the Milwaukee Bucks during the game on December 10, 2016 at Verizon Center in Washington, DC. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2016 NBAE (Photo by Ned Dishman/NBAE via Getty Images) /
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MILWAUKEE, WI – FEBRUARY 27: Kelly Oubre Jr. #12 of the Washington Wizards goes to the basket against the Milwaukee Bucks on February 27, 2018 at the BMO Harris Bradley Center in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2018 NBAE (Photo by Gary Dineen/NBAE via Getty Images)
MILWAUKEE, WI – FEBRUARY 27: Kelly Oubre Jr. #12 of the Washington Wizards goes to the basket against the Milwaukee Bucks on February 27, 2018 at the BMO Harris Bradley Center in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2018 NBAE (Photo by Gary Dineen/NBAE via Getty Images) /

Stuck with Bucks in first round…

If the Wizards meet the Milwaukee Bucks during the first round, they can beat them, but they have to outlast them.

What do I mean? The Bucks manage Giannis Antetokounmpo‘s minutes well. In addition to time management, foul trouble is actually an unintended plus for the big man.

When he’s in foul trouble, they’ll naturally sit him. But then he comes out in the fourth quarter tearing up the court.

Let me take you back to January 6. Washington had that game in hand. Antetokounmpo got into early foul trouble, so he sat for part of the third.

He was reinserted in the fourth quarter. He then picked up his fifth foul with a little over six minutes left in regulation. So he sat again.

He returned to the floor with a little over three minutes left, and the Wizards up 99-96. With him on the floor the Bucks went on a 14-2 run, stealing what should have been a Washington win.

Thus, getting the Greek Freek into foul trouble helps Washington of course. It’s counterintuitive not to get him into foul trouble.

Therefore, Washington has to make sure they have a lot of energy to close out the fourth. Because that was freakish the amount of energy that he displayed in those final minutes.

Not even going to bring up “Dirty Delly”. Watching him over the years, it’s hard to give him the benefit of the doubt. But I will. However, he’s an x-factor if the Wizards are up. Take whatever you want from that.

A Wizards-Bucks matchup probably would go the distance.

Keys to a Buck series—Protect the ball (limit turnovers), protect the paint, (protect yourself – just kidding), and conserve energy.

If the Wizards meet the Heat, Miami’s bench can’t outscore Washington’s.

If the Wizards meet the Bucks, “every” player in a Wizards uniform should get playing time. Because that matchup will be a marathon. The last man standing wins that one.

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