A Deceiving Opponent: Denver Nuggets vs. Washington Wizards

Washington’s x-factor 

Bradley Beal is the only star on the active roster. However, third-year center Thomas Bryant is the meats and potatoes of the operation. The blue-collar effort from Bryant is what keeps the Wizards from the pits of the Eastern Conference. Nikola Jokic has some company in the form of a 16.5 rebound percentage, 61 true shooting percentage frontcourt counterpart.

Jokic, typically the bully on the block regarding rebounding, has quite the fight on the boards Tuesday night. Bryant is not one to come up empty-handed in the frontcourt frenzy. It’s not farfetched to proclaim Bryant as the sole reason Washington is not a bottom-three team in the league.

According to Cleaning the Glass on/off statistics, the Wizards put up a remarkable 23.7 points via putbacks per 100 missed field goals/free throws.

Between the infectious energy and the formidable strength of Washington’s starting center, Jokic has quite the assignment. The positive contributions don’t stop there. Bryant is what Dwight Howard should have been for the past eight seasons: an excellent and willing screen setter. In turn, teammates reward him with looks at the basket.

Although Bryant isn’t a household name just yet, Nuggets fans beware of the hard-nosed center. Jokic is notorious for taking the foul bait, and Bryant’s aggressive nature isn’t a great recipe for the Nuggets’ star.