The 7-0 Milwaukee Bucks take on the 4-4 Minnesota Timberwolves Friday night at the Target center. The Bucks are the last undefeated team in the NBA. The last time they started off a season this hot, Giannis won the MVP award and they cruised to 60 wins.
The Timberwolves should provide the Bucks with a challenger worthy of the Nationally televised broadcast we’ll see Friday night. The game has a later start time because of this: tip off is 9pm.
Bucks keys
Keep winning the rebounding battle: This will be the toughest challenge the Bucks have faced so far this year in the paint. The Bucks are ranked number one in the NBA in team rebounding (51.4 per game). The Timberwolves aren’t far behind in 3rd. (48.1 per game)
Controlling the glass will be key.
Bobby Portis has played well and will need to continue to play well for the Bucks to win.
Keep that lock down 4th quarter defense going: The Bucks have played excellent 4th quarter defense, only giving up around 25 points in the 4th. However, the Timberwolves also play great 4th quarter defense, averaging 8 points more than their opponents score in the 4th. Tonight the 4th quarter should be a key to who wins.
The Opponent: The Minnesota Timberwolves
What makes the Timberwolves tick? They, like the Bucks, have a strong big three in newly acquired Rudy Gobert, number one overall pick (2015) Karl Anthony-Towns, and number one overall pick (2020) Anthony Edwards. Any team that gets as many high draft picks as the Timberwolves have gotten, eventually, is bound to be better.
The Timberwolves are developing a reputation as a high-scoring, poor defensive team. It’ll be interesting to see what type of impact Gobert has on that. The Timberwolves gave up a ton to get him. Will the team continue to gel?
Things to tell your buddies as you are watching the game
- The Los Angeles Lakers were originally called the Minnesota Lakers. (1947-1960) Makes sense to me. The last time I was in LA I don’t remember bumping into too many lakes.
- Minnesota got a team back in the 1989-1990 season. In the 1989 NBA expansion draft to support the Orlando Magic and Minnesota Timberwolves, the Wolves drafted former Buck Mark Davis. Davis had barely played for the Bucks (31 games).
- Rudy Gobert can play defense. He has been selected three times as the NBA defensive player of the year.
- My math isn’t good sometimes but I think I have this right: the Bucks have been an NBA franchise for 54 years. They have made the playoffs in 34 of those seasons.
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