Milwaukee Bucks’ Opposition Intel: Washington Wizards Q&A With Ben Mehic
By Adam McGee
Nov 22, 2014; Milwaukee, WI, USA; Milwaukee Bucks guard Giannis Antetokounmpo (34) dribbles the ball as Washington Wizards guard John Wall (2) defends during the first quarter at BMO Harris Bradley Center. Mandatory Credit: Jeff Hanisch-USA TODAY Sports
AM: The Bucks were shown up by the Knicks in their season opener with Giannis Antetokounmpo sidelined due to suspension, and now he’s going to be itching to get back on the court for his season debut on Friday. If Giannis is on form, how would Washington be best served to stop him from having an impact?
BM: Otto Porter is the correct answer.
Both players are super long and athletic, making this a fun match up for every basketball fan. Giannis, while hyped up to the max, still has a long way to go before reaching his full potential. His perimeter game is still a bit shaky, so Porter will try to keep him away from the paint. The Bucks, like every team in the league, need more shooting. If Giannis wants to become a star, he needs to develop a consistent outside shot. Right now, he just doesn’t have that.
The Wizards also need to limit their turnovers, otherwise Giannis is going to destroy them in transition. They had trouble with their turnovers in Orlando, so that should be a key focus. Porter isn’t going to handle the ball often, but the Wizards as a collective unit need to do a better job of taking care of the ball.
Most people look forward to seeing the likes of LeBron and Kobe Bryant, but I really enjoy seeing these match ups too. Giannis and Porter have bright futures ahead of them. A few years from now, we could look back and think about the time we saw Porter and Giannis go at it in 2015-’16.
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