The Bucks knocked the Chicago Bulls off their perch Friday night after a 94-90 win at the Fiserv Forum.
Up next is the Sacramento Kings at the Fiserv Forum in the second game in as many nights. Let’s have a look at three things to watch for in this one.
#1: Break The Back To Back Mould
The Bucks are notoriously bad for struggling on night two of a back to back. Which is fair if we are honest, it can’t be easy. I’m no athletic, super fit NBA player (although sometimes I like to pretend I am) and I struggled just getting out of bed this morning after sitting up until 4am watching the Bulls game.
That said, we took a big win last night against the Bulls. Yes, they were shorthanded but we can only play what’s in front of us. We weren’t at our best and at points looked like we were playing our second game of the day never mind our first and only of the night.
Anyway, for some strange reason whenever we play on back to back we always look lethargic and generally uninterested by the second night.
After last night’s win, we are only 1.5 games off of the 1 seed in the East and it would be nice to creep a little closer. Adding to that, we are playing a Kings team who are battling it out for the final Play-In spot in the West and they will be looking for a win, especially after throwing it away against the Pistons the other night.
If we want to win tonight, we’re going to have to play like a team that wants to win.
#2: Shoot Better
I’m aware that sounds like a pretty simple task in basketball. Shoot well, win games. Seems straightforward enough, right?
Well, last night we shot poorly. Luckily for us, the Bulls shot worse and we came away with the win.
It’s not very often that the Milwaukee Bucks score less than 100 points in a game but last night we managed that. The Bucks shot 38.6% from the field and less than 20% from deep. Even our Free Throw shooting wasn’t anything to sing about, sitting at 70.1% and shockingly Khris even had his struggles from the line.
In a game we could really do with winning to gather momentum heading into the game against the Cavs next week, we can’t afford a second poor shooting night tonight. We’re heavily expected to win tonight, and we are the warm up fr the Packers Playoff matchup against the 49ers, so lets hope the boys put on a show, shoot well and allow leave it to the Packer to stress us out.
#3: Stop De’Aaron Fox
De’Aaron Fox is the man to stop on this Kings team. The 5th overall pick is in his 5th season with the Kings and the Guard leads the Kings with 21 points per game on 45.8% shooting from the field. Granted his 3 point shooting does leave a lot to be desired at less than 25% this season… watch this space, Fox is going to sink every 3 he shoots against us now.
Overall he’s having a pretty solid season. He’s playing 34 minutes per game and along with his 21 points, he’s helping the team with over 5 assist and just under 4 rebounds per game.
Yes, these numbers don’t scream superstar. But on a Kings team where they have struggled, Fox is their talisman. If we can prevent him having a decent game, we will finish this mini home-stand 3-0. B-e-a-utiful.
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