The Washington Wizards are set to return to action on Saturday night against the Milwaukee Bucks.
Washington has a chance to begin their first winning streak since they beat the Atlanta Hawks in back to back games at the start of the season. Following their historically rough start to the year, the Wizards being able to stack up a few wins could possibly turn the morale surrounding this team around,
Although the Wizards playoff hopes, or even play-in chances seem to be gone, adding wins to the team's record is what the fanbase deserves as their only hopes right now is turning their luck around in the offseason.
That said, here's a look at three keys for the Wizards to steal a win on the road in Milwaukee,
Take advantage of Damian Lillard's absence
Damian Lillard has already been ruled out of tonight's game against the Wizards. When Lillard is on the floor, he elevated Milwaukee to another level and makes Doc Rivers' squad even tougher to defend.
Without Lillard on the floor, Milwaukee will be seeking offensive contributions from players that normally aren't depended to score in bunches. In addition, Bucks' star Giannis Antetokounmpo will be relied on to carry much of the offensive load.
If Washington can take advantage of the Bucks absence in the backcourt, not only can they capitalize on Milwakee missing a key scorer, but the Wizards backcourt could put more effort into their offensive games rather than exerting extra energy on defensive focusing on locking down an explosive scorer like Lillard.
Rely on Malcolm Brogdon
Malcolm Brogdon was drafted by the Milwaukee Bucks out of college where he eventually won the Rookie of the Year award and proved to be a valuable asset to the franchise. The veteran at one point called Milwaukee home and he could return to his roots on Saturday and put up a big game in an environment he feels comfortable in.
That said, Brian Keefe and the Wizards should attempt to run the offense through Brogdon and see if he can set the tone in this matchup early. Especially coming off a 25-point outing in Washington's win over Charlotte on Thursday.
Limit Giannis Antetokounmpo
As mentioned above, Antetokounmpo will have a lot of pressure on him against the Wizards to carry the load on offense. If Washington can limit his production and force the Bucks' supporting cast to beat them, their chances to win will only increase.
Not to mention the Wizards' rookie Alex Sarr could be huge in disrupting Antetokounmpo on offense, especially with the youngster gaining experience as the season continues.