Bucks vs Cavs Preview
The 29-16 Milwaukee Bucks take on the 28-19 Cleveland Cavaliers Saturday Night in Cleveland, Ohio at the Rocket Mortgage Fieldhouse. This is the fourth time these teams have played with the Bucks winning game one 113-83 and game two 117-102. The Bucks then went on to lose game three 114-106.
The game will be televised on Bally’s Sports Wisconsin.
The schedule makers have been kind to the Bucks here. Cleveland is on a back-to-back, having lost last night to Golden State 120-114. Milwaukee has finally had some time to rest and recover. They last played Tuesday against the Raptors and won.
Related: Giannis Top Five Games
It is #1 vs #2. It is Giannis vs Donovan, Great Lakes Brewery vs Lakefront, Summerfest vs the Rock n Roll Hall of Fame….
Keys for the Bucks
Continue to establish the interior
The Bucks need to rebound and score over 112 total team points.
The Bucks are 21st in the NBA in team scoring at 112.6 points per game. They need more points in the paint.
It sounds simple enough: score more points than they do and you’ll win. But it is hard to beat an NBA team four times, let alone a team as good and as strong as Cleveland. The Cavs have an even worse offense if you can believe it. (111 points per game) First team to 100 points should win.
Giannis expected to play. Khris Middleton is not.
Related: Bucks vs Cavs Injury Report
Rebound
When Milwaukee rebounds, Milwaukee wins! In game two the Bucks only outrebounded the Cavs by a couple of boards, but in game one, the difference was pretty pronounced (34 team boards by Cleveland vs 52 for the Bucks). Finding ways to limit their second chance attempts is big. The Bucks right now are getting some strong interior play from Brook Lopez and Bobby Ports. Lopez has been in quite a few defensive player of the year conversations. The Cavs also have two really good interior players in Jarret Allen (he didn’t play in game 1) and Evan Mobley.
What the Cavs have in youth, the Bucks have in experience. It’ll be a key for the Bucks to rebound the ball and keep the Cavs off the glass.
The Opponent- The Cavaliers
Donovan Mitchel and Ricky Rubio are listed as day-to-day. When they play Cleveland has a much stronger backcourt
Otherwise, Cleveland has been impressive so far. They are on a two game losing streak. The Cavs are young and streaky but have gone 19-5 at home.
Darrius Garland has really turned it up. He is leading the team with 8 assists per game. He is lightning quick and will look to push the tempo.
Donovan Mitchell has been a star. Mitchell is averaging 28 points per game. He is also averaging around 36 minutes a game and is shooting over 50% from the field.
What the Bucks have in experience, the Cavs have in youthful exuberance. This time around the Cavs have seemed to hit all of the right notes through the draft and have added some good young players.
Jarret Allen and Evan Mobley are good interior defenders. Taken 3rd overall in the 2021 d the team with 8 assists per game. He is lightning quick and will look to push the tempo.
Related: Game One Preview
Things to tell your buddies while you’re watching the game
- Giannis is 4th in the NBA in scoring (31.0 point per game)
- Milwaukee leads the all-time series 130-98.
- This is the last time these two teams play this season.
- Check out the “Bucks Tweets of the Week”. But don’t check your phone too much in front of your buddy. It is rude.
Follow me on Twitter at @authorrudylb and check out my other writings at www.rudylb.com. Check out the cool I-Heart Radio Podcast Gyro Step Podcast here. Follow us at @WiSportsHeroics for all things Wisconsin sports. Also, check out our merch store for some amazing WSH merchandise!
1 Comment
Aren’t the Bucks the 2nd place team, not the Cavaliers?