The Washington Wizards finished their first road trip with a 1-1 record, and they’ll look to get their second straight victory in their home opener against the Milwaukee Bucks tonight. Tip-off is at 7:00pm EST.

Key Match Up:

The Milwaukee Bucks were the worst team in basketball last season, but that shouldn’t be the case this year. With Jason Kidd taking over the head coaching position, the growth of Giannis Antetokounmpo (Yes, I google’d the last name), and second overall pick Jabari Parker expected to compete for the Rookie of the Year Award, the Milwaukee Bucks could end up becoming a lot more competitive than originally expected.

That said, a lot will fall on the shoulders of Jabari Parker, who’s going to be one of Milwaukee’s top options right out of college.

Like Paul Pierce in Brooklyn this past season, Kidd will likely play Parker at the power forward spot a lot this year, creating match up problems for the opposing teams. Parker scored 11 points and grabbed 10 rebounds in last night’s victory over the Philadelphia 76ers, and he’ll likely be matched up against Nene for most of the night.

Parker is one of the most versatile players to come out of this year’s NBA Draft, and the Washington Wizards have struggled to guard “stretch fours” in the past. Milwaukee has added some scoring, and it’s important for the Wizards to make Parker work for his points tonight. If he gets hot, like he’s shown the capability of doing, the Wizards might be in for a game tonight.

Prediction:

If the Washington Wizards want to become a top team in the Eastern Conference, they can’t lose games to the Milwaukee Bucks at home.

John Wall is coming off a 30 point, 12 assist performance against the Orlando Magic, and it’s clear that he wants to step up in the absence of Beal. Washington dropped a 16 point lead against Orlando and have struggled against the Bucks in the past. They’ve come out flat against weaker teams last year, and that can’t be the case this season.

Averaging 21 points thus far, O.J. Mayo is having a bounce back season in Milwaukee and he’s also capable of winning games. Brandon Knight is also averaging close to 18 points and 11 assists in two games, and he’s given John Wall trouble when they’ve matched up. With Larry Sanders back in the lineup, the Bucks’ perimeter players are able to focus more on the offensive side of the floor and have been more productive as a result.

Even though they’ve improved a lot, I still think the Washington Wizards will get a comfortable victory over the Milwaukee Bucks tonight. Washington hasn’t done a great job of rebounding tonight, but they should have a significant advantage tonight, especially if Kidd opts to play small lineups. Young teams typically turn the ball over a lot as well, and that should benefit the Washington Wizards’ transition game.