“4th time’s the Charm?”
The 53-21 Milwaukee Bucks take on the 16-58 Detroit Pistons on Monday Night in Detroit. Milwaukee has already beat Detroit three times this year, and the Pistons are only 9-29 at home. Milwaukee lost Saturday Night to Denver 129-106. Detroit is mired in a 5 game losing streak. They are 2-18 in their last twenty games. This one is setting up to be a big-time NBA blowout.
Detroit last played in Toronto, losing to the Raptors. That was the fourth time this season Toronto beat Detroit. Milwaukee would love to do the same.
According to Vegas Milwaukee has a 93% chance to win and is a fifteen point favorite: on the road. In the NBA! That’s a pretty strong nod to Milwaukee. Detroit’s best player might be as good as Milwaukee’s 8th best guy.
The problem here might not be with Milwaukee’s injured roster and missing Crowder, Leonard and Dragic, but with Detroit’s injured team. When Detroit doesn’t play with their leading scorer Bojan Bogdanovic or veteran guard Alec Burks, they lose. Star rookie Cade Cunningham has already been shot down for the season. This is certainly a season to forget in Detroit.
Related: Best Bucks playoffs match-ups
Bucks keys
Keep the Pistons below 100 points
This one would be a nice thing to have happen.
A few games ago Miami held Detroit to 100 points even. In their last game Toronto held Detroit down to 97. This one would almost guarantee victory.
Detroit only usually scores 110 points; Detroit gives up 118 points a game. Milwaukee usually only gives up 111 points. If Milwaukee can keep Detroit under 100 points and really lock them down, that would be really cool!
Avoid injury
Giannis is already listed as doubtful and probably won’t play.
Nobody wants to hear this one right now: nobody. But it’s true. Milwaukee is getting ready for the playoffs. This roster is constructed to win these games with veteran players who can come in and take care of business.
Of course everyone hates it. Check out the tweet below.
NBA needs to do something about load management. Nobody would willingly pay to go see Ty Jerome hoop. pic.twitter.com/Pt1dgH22pp
— ☄️ (@Devinn602) January 21, 2023
Related: Bucks Bench Midseason Grades
Keep shooting the three
A Jrue Holiday +5 “makes” from the three game would be pretty great.
The Bucks average 39 three point attempts a game. (Detroit averages 31 per game) The Bucks and their offense is built around Giannis driving the ball and kicking it out to a shooter. It is working so far: keep shooting the three.
It is imperative Milwaukee avoids a “Charlotte”-type game where the opponent shoots the lights out.
The Opponent: The Detroit Pistons
Against the Raptors the Pistons started Marvin Bagley JR, Isaiah Livers, James Wiseman, Killian Hayes and Jaden Ivey. None of those guys are household names. Eugene Omoruyi is the Pistons top option off the bench. Omoruyi’s best ability of late has been availability.
Cade Cunningham is out for the year. He was only able to play 12 games before suffering a season-ending shin injury. He really accounted for all of their scoring. The Pistons have struggled to score. They are 28th in the NBA in scoring.
The Pistons have also not shot the ball well so far this year and have the NBA’s worst team field goal percentage. They are in the bottom five in fouls (they foul a lot) and in team assists (22 per game). The Pistons don’t tend to pass the ball well. They have played very inconsistent basketball.
Bojan Bogdanovic leads the team in scoring. (21 points per game) But he is listed as doubtful. He has started and played in every game so far this season for Detroit. I’m certain everyone associated with the Pistons would prefer to have last year’s number overall pick Cade Cunningham lead the team in scoring, but again, he’s out.
The Pistons also often start two “point guards” in Killian Hayes and Jaden Ivey. Both guys are really young.
Jalen Duren is also an intriguing player for the Pistons. Only 18, Duren is raw and chalk full of talent. Duren fits the mold of what it seems like this team and franchise are trying to do: be the Rockets and Thunder of the East. Acquire tons of first round talent in the hopes one or two of those guys become great NBA players.
Things to tell your buddies as you are watching the game
- “Succession” on HBO is entering its final season. It is a show about money and power and ownership. Not much has been heard of or from new Bucks owner Jimmy Haslam.
- The Pistons have won three NBA championships (1989, 1990, and 2004).
- The Pistons are owned by Tom Gores. He has a net worth of 6.2 billion dollars.
- Giannis is in the second year of a 5yr $228,000,000 contract. He is under contract with the Bucks for next season and the following year. In 2025-2026 he has a player option which he can take. He then becomes an unrestricted free agent in 2026-2027.
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