The (7-4) Milwaukee Bucks take on the (3-7) Charlotte Hornets on the road at the Spectrum Center in North Carolina. It is getting colder outside but after a nice win in Toronto, the team seems to be getting hotter. This is the first game of a back-to-back. Tomorrow night the team flies back to Milwaukee to take on the Dallas Mavericks. Luka and Kyrie come to town. (Keep your eyes here at wisportsheroics.com for the latest.)
The Bucks might enter into a stretch here similar to the one the Portland Trailblazers had last season: the team will go as far as Damian Lillard can carry them. Giannis might not play again due to a calf-strain/injury management.
Vegas has the Bucks as 7 point favorites with a 67% chance to win. Milwaukee continues to improve and it is not a surprise they are such a big favorite on the road.
This is the first time this season these two teams will play.
Related: Game One Preview Last Season
The Keys to a Milwaukee Bucks Win
Score over 118 points (Feels like a Magic Number)
Milwaukee and their offense is back! Over the past four games the Bucks have averaged 121 points. It seems like they are beginning to find their identity.
In this space we are still trying to figure out that “total game points” magic number. (Yes, we all get it, if you score more points then they do, you win!) When the Bucks lost to the Magic they only scored 97 points. That felt like an outlier. When they beat the Nets they scored 129. That felt “right”.
When the Bucks hit that 118 point number, they are always in a much better position to win the game.
There seems to be something to that 118 point mark lately. Or even to the Bucks scoring between 115-120 points total. Milwaukee, so far in the 2023-2024 season, averages 117 points as a team. If they can get to 118, that bodes well for the Milwaukee Bucks.
Related: Is there a Doctor in the House? Should the Bucks try to Hire Doc Rivers to Coach?
Rebound the Basketball
Last season the Milwaukee Bucks were the NBA’s top rebounding team. (48.6 rebounds per game)
This year they are 28th (40.9 rebounds per game)
When you control the glass you can also control the tempo of the game. This team needs to do better and it starts with some basic fundamentals: box out your man and put your body in a position to get the rebound.
Can someone explain why the Bucks cant rebound the ball? Like…. hello???
— Badger 👑 (@quietbadger3) November 16, 2023
Defend the Ball
Much has been made about Milwaukee’s defense; especially when you compare it to last year’s team with Jrue Holiday.
That is turning out top be a true key metric for this team. Right now they are giving up 117.7 points a game. Last season they only gave up 112 points per game. That feels like a pretty big difference.
Milwaukee Bucks Defense so far :
– 6th Worst Defensive Rating
– 9th Worst Def.Rting in History
– 25th in Opponent's PPG
– 24th in DFG%
– 29th in Rebounds Per GameAnd still a 5-3 Record, imagine when they figure it out… pic.twitter.com/y6k67SK7Ql
— Bucks Muse (@BucksMuse) November 10, 2023
The Opponent: The Charlotte “Bobcat” Hornets
Miles Bridges is back. After sitting out 583 days the Hornets forward is playing. He has made it past a ten day suspension for domestic abuse and “knowing violating” the terms of a restraining order. In some basic research related to his case none of it sounds good.
Hornets Coach Steve Clifford has tried to say all the right things about his return:
“He’s worked really hard, but you don’t know because it’s not easy to not play a game after [sitting out] this length of time,” Clifford said. “It may take a little bit but he has done everything he can do to give himself a good chance to play well early. He’s gotten in really good shape and he does a lot extra. He has worked very hard.”
This version of the Hornets started out as the Bobcats. Now owner Michael Jordan is trying to get his franchise on the right track.
Charlotte has not been all that good to start the season. Their top scorer is LaMelo Ball (22.2 per game).
Their top rebounder is their former first round pick (2022) Mark Williams. The 2bnd year player out of Duke is averaging 9 rebounds per game.
LaMelo Ball also leads the team in assists (8.6)
Terry Rozier is injured and will not play. Charlotte is only 1-4 at home.
Things to tell your buddies as you are watching the game
- LaMelo Ball is only 22 years old. At this point it seems like he is the “best” NBA talent of the three Ball Brothers, led by LaVar Ball and the Big Baller brand. Unfortunately for the family they are all getting sued.
- The Charlotte Hornets used to be the Charlotte Bobcats. Former owner George Shinn moved the team to New Orleans. Then the NBA put another team back in Charlotte in 2004. (The Bobcats). Finally in 2015 it seemed to be agreed upon that Charlotte would be the Hornets and New Orleans would be the Pelicans.
- The Bucks lead the all-time series 65-60.
- Follow me on Twitter at @authorrudylb and check out my other writings at www.rudylb.com. Follow us at @WiSportsHeroics! For all things Wisconsin sports, click here! Also, check out our merch store for some amazing WSH merchandise!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4eKwlMAZAaM
