Bucks on a back to back
A Possible Preview of the NBA Finals
The 53-20 Milwaukee Bucks take on the 49-24 Denver Nuggets on Saturday night in Denver at the Ball arena, riding some good vibes after they delivered a “butt whooping” to the Utah Jazz. Milwaukee won Friday night in Utah 144-116.
This also means Milwaukee might have some tired legs. Denver is 30-6 at home. The Nuggets are favored to win this game by 3 points.
For Milwaukee all the “new guys” are out: Jae Crowder, Goran Dragic, and Meyers Leonard.
The game will feature the two leading candidates for MVP in Giannis Antetokounmpo (+450) and Nikola Jokic (+270).
This game should be a good one! This is the second and last time these teams will meet, unless they meet in the NBA finals. (+850)
Related: Bucks vs Jazz Recap
Bucks keys
Score
The Bucks are 7th in the NBA in scoring (116.8 points per game). Defensively they only give up around 112 points per game, hence their pretty strong record.
Over the past five games the Bucks have averaged 129.4 points. In this space we really have figured it out- the magic number is 118. Utah scores 116, we score more and win. In Milwaukee’s last loss to Indiana they simply let the second half run away from them. So, had the Bucks managed to play better defense, the 123 points they scored would have been enough.
Milwaukee averages over 60 points in the first half in games this year. That’s 7th in the NBA. 11
Tonight Milwaukee needs to keep scoring.
Related: Bucks Bench Midseason Grades
(Score continued) Keep shooting the three
The Bucks average 39 three point attempts a game. (Denver only averages 30 per game, forth lowest in the NBA) The Bucks and their offense is built around Giannis driving the ball and kicking it out to a shooter.
So who needs to make some threes? How about “Planet Pat” or the “Great Grayson” or “Splash Mountain”? These veterans, along with some Kash Money Middleton work, need some solid productivity from behind the arc.
Out Rebound Denver
Milwaukee is leading the NBA in team rebounding (49.0 rebounds per game.) That is really good and is one of the major reasons why they win so many games.
If you read this space you know there is a true ”obsession” with keeping track of the team rebounding battle. Denver is not a terrible rebounding team but they aren’t as strong as Milwaukee. (1st vs 17th) If Milwaukee can out rebound the Nuggets by say, 10 total rebounds, that bodes well for the Bucks.
The Opponent: The Denver Nuggets
The Denver Nuggets have never won an NBA championship.
Denver has played a little flat of late, winning five of their last ten.
Nikola Jokic (aka The Joker) is the real deal. (Shooting 63.6 % from the field.) He leads Denver in scoring, rebounding and assists. The former second round pick (43rd overall) is really, really good. He is 17th in the NBA overall in scoring, 2nd in rebounding and 4th in the NBA in assists. It usually is that amazing assists number that catches fans off-guard. He is 7 feet tall and 4th in the NBA in assists! Wow!
Related: Redrafting the 2016 NBA Draft
The Nuggets have a great head coach in Michael Malone. His system fits the team’s personnel. It puts an emphasis on dribble handoffs. The Bucks will also run dribble handoffs but not at the volume the Nuggets do. With Jokic at that “point forward” position, why not?
Jamal Murray is back for Denver and he has made a huge difference this season. Averaging just over 20 points a game he is the #2 complement to Jokic that makes the Nuggets go.
Aaron Gordon is also having a good season for Denver. The former number 4 overall pick Has really shot the ball well (58% from the field).
The Nuggets are like the Bucks in that they are loaded with veteran talent. Kentavarious Caldwell-Pope, Bruce Brown and Jeff Green are not new to the NBA.
Christian Braun was the Nuggets number one pick (20th overall) in last year’s draft. Picture AJ Green but two inches taller. He is a shooter.
Denver traded away Bones Hyland. It has not seemed to help.
Things to tell your buddies as you are watching the game
Corona and Bud Light are tied in terms of beer “brand awareness”. Over 85% of US Adults recognize those two beers.
Denver and Milwaukee are the number one seeds in their conference. Unlike the NCAA, these two number one seeds should expect to go deep in the playoffs.
The Denver Nuggets have never won an NBA championship.
Jokic is listed as a true seven footer. He weighs 284 pounds. I have friends that weigh 284 pounds- they ain’t seven feet tall!
Brook Lopez did not play so hot vs Denver last season, averaging 12.5 points per game and 0 blocked shots.
Denver leads the all-time series vs Milwaukee 63-39.
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