The Milwaukee Bucks Start their NBA Central Title Run at home
The 4-2 Milwaukee Bucks take on the 2-6 Detroit Pistons on Wednesday Night at home at the Fiserv forum. Milwaukee is already favored by 13.5 points. Jaden Ivey for Detroit and Khris Middleton for Milwaukee are listed as “out”.
Detroit last played at home against Golden State. They lost 120-109. Steph Curry torched the Pistons for 34 points. Golden State also had 19 offensive rebounds.
Detroit is in the middle of a five-game losing streak. Milwaukee has won 2 in a row. Detroit is currently in last in the NBA Central; Milwaukee is in first. Milwaukee is 3-1 at home so far this year; Detroit is 1-3 on the road.
Related: Should Bucks fans worry about 1st year Coach Adrian Griffin
The Milwaukee Bucks are coming off a nice, somewhat odd at times, win over the Nets. They’d like to keep that momentum winning. It’ll start with some lock-down D.
Milwaukee Bucks Keys to Victory
Keep the Pistons below 100 points
Detroit has scored over 100 points in all of their games. But with Jaden Ivey out and shooting guard Alec Burks out, the Pistons are already coming into the game without a small chunk of scoring.
According to Stat Muse The Detroit Pistons and the Miami Heat were tied for the most games with fewer than 100 points in the 2022-23 season, with 14 games.
Milwaukee has yet to keep a team under 100. This could be a “get right game” for the Milwaukee Bucks defense. So far there have been 14 games where teams scored under 100 points. This one could be another!
Run the Pick n Roll
Without Middleton the scoring burden will fall on Dame and Giannis. They’ll be ready!
Giannis is 11th in the league right now averaging 26 points a game.
Lillard is 23rd in the NBA right now and is only averaging 22.7 points a game.
Who wouldn’t love to see two 40 point + efforts from these two? I bet if they even try it a little more, they could run more than one or two pick n rolls and get some real open looks?
This is the regular season in the NBA; let’s see some scoring!
What is up with the three point shooting?
The Bucks average 39 three point attempts a game. (Detroit averages 29 per game) The Bucks and their offense used to be built around Giannis driving the ball and kicking it out to a shooter. That can still be the case once-in-awhile.
How about 10+ three point attempts for Dame? Let’s chunk it around!
The Opponent: The Detroit Pistons
Cade Cunningham is back. He leads the team in scoring 22.9. He also is averaging 7 assists a game. The 22-year old, first overall pick is a budding star. He’ll be a challenge for Milwaukee. Jalen Duren (ankle) has played well and Ausar Thompson has turned heads with his all-around play, but Cunningham’s place as Detroit’s primary scoring threat is firmly entrenched.
Jalen Duren is an intriguing player for the Pistons. Only 19, 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. OKC could even be a top six team in the West this season.
Against Golden State, Detroit started Marvin Bagley, Ausar Thompson, Isaiah Stewart, Killian Hayes and Cade Cunningham. Killian Hayes runs the point but hasn’t shot well so far this season (37%).
Joe Harris, the former Net, is also out for Detroit.
Monty Williams, formerly of the Suns, is Detroit’s new Head Coach. Well-respected throughout the leagues, he’ll haver his team ready to play.
Things to tell your buddies as you are watching the game
- Milwaukee is currently 11th in the NBA in team scoring 116.7 points per game.
- The Pistons take their name from the influence of the automobile industry on Detroit.
- 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.
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1 Comment
The Bucks should dominate and win by more than 10, but the D of the big men for the Pistons has improved to the point that they will give our bigs trouble.
Looks for yet another guard to torch Dame for nearly 40 (maybe a couple over 30).
This will be another game that is closer than it should be.