How can the Milwaukee Bucks make the “final 8”?
With the NBA Cup up for grabs, what do the Milwaukee Bucks need to do to make the next stage: the Knockout Round?
Basically, if they win, they are in and will be the “top seed” in the East. Because the Knicks beat the Heat, Miami is really a long shot to make it. (Check out the middle scenario).
Otherwise, there are other things that can happen that also work:
- If Milwaukee wins and the New York Knicks win, then Milwaukee wins the group. (The Bucks beat the Knicks already). They then get the top seed. The Knicks still have a chance to be the wild-card team depending on point differential. The Heat are eliminated.
- Bucks lose (which means Heat win) and Knicks win: Milwaukee, New York and Miami will all tie, with the deadlock being broken by point differential. In that scenario, the Heat will have to beat the Bucks by at least 8 points more than the Knicks beat the Hornets to finish second in the group and have a shot at winning a wild card.
- Milwaukee Bucks win, New York Knicks lose and then Milwaukee wins the group and the Heat are eliminated. Knicks are eliminated if either the Boston Celtics, Brooklyn Nets or Cleveland Cavaliers win Tuesday. New York really has to beat the Hornets.
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Nov 3, 2023; Milwaukee, Wisconsin, USA; Shirts on seats for the NBA In-Season Tournament before game between the Milwaukee Bucks and New York Knicks at Fiserv Forum. Mandatory Credit: Benny Sieu-USA TODAY Sports Related: Bucks vs Celtics Game Preview
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What the Bucks website (and rules) say: (From Bucks.com)
A team will play each of the other four teams in its group in one Group Play game. A team’s record in these four intraconference games will determine whether the team qualifies for the Knockout Rounds. In the event two or more teams are tied within a group, the tie among the teams will be broken according to the following tiebreakers (in sequential order):
- Head-to-head record in the Group Stage;
- Point differential in the Group Stage;
- Total points scored in the Group Stage;
- Regular season record from the 2022-23 NBA regular season;
- Random drawing (in the unlikely scenario that two or more teams are still tied following the previous tiebreakers).
Damian Lillard is here and it’s “Dame Time!”
The Milwaukee Bucks made the move of the offseason in acquiring 33 year old point guard Damian Lillard. Lillard will provide something the Bucks have never really had yet: truly dynamic scoring from the point guard position. Lillard averaged 32.2 points per game last season. Over his 11 year career Lillard has averaged over 25 points a game. He is an excellent free throw shooter (89.5% per game) and still passes the ball well (7.3 APG last season). He is “lights out” from three.
So far it appears to be working.
Lillard has been fun to watch. So have Giannis and Middleton. Fans should have every reason to be excited!
From Summer League to today- MarJon Beauchamp continues to improve
Beauchamp played in 51 games over his rookie season. The 23 year old averaged a modest 5/2/1. This was all over 13 minutes per game.
But now, in his second season, if Beauchamp can average double all of that- 26 minutes a game and 10/4/2, that would certainly be impactful.
As of this writing he is averaging 16 minutes a game and 5.8 points. With more minutes should come more production. Maybe it will be his time against the Heat?
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