Game Two of the Regular Season Continues at Home on Sunday 10.29.23
The 1-0 Milwaukee Bucks take on the 0-2 Atlanta Hawks on Sunday Night in downtown Milwaukee. The game will not be “up against” the Packer game as they play at noon. So with that said, it’ll be a full day of Wisconsin Sports! Happy Sunday Funday!
Atlanta has had a tough start to the season. They lost a hard-fought game Friday night to the Knicks at home. Atlanta also lost at Charlotte to start the season. They have been able to score; they just haven’t been able to defend.
Former Buck Wesely Matthews is injured and out. He’ll be reevaluated for a calf strain in two weeks.
On the contrary Milwaukee’s start to their season has been electric. After beating the 76ers 118-117 on National TV, Milwaukee will look to continue riding “the dame train” and go 2-0, at home, to start the season.
Related: Bucks vs 76ers Game One Preview
Vegas has the Milwaukee Bucks at a 68% chance to win the game and should be about 9 point favorites.
Related: Bucks vs 76ers Game One Recap
This is the first night of a home-in-home back to back for Milwaukee. Monday Night they play the Miami Heat at home.
The Keys for the Milwaukee Bucks
No more than 14 total team turnovers
Against the 76ers the Bucks committed exactly 14 turnovers. 7 of those turnovers came from Giannis.
Now, in Giannis’s defense, sometimes it is going to take time to figure out this new offense. New coach, new point guard, not a lot of preseason playing time: all of these are reasons to not really worry. But to account for 50% of your team’s turnovers is way too high.
Conversely Damian Lillard, the new star point guard who dropped 39 points in his debut, accounted for 0 turnovers. 0! That is what you love to see out of a point guard. 0 turnovers! If Lillard can score like that and protect the ball like George Hill the Bucks are going to win quite a few games.
Related: Previewing the Bucks Guards
Get Malik Beasley and Khris Middleton Going
It still is only the second game of the season so if neither of these guys has a breakout performance that doesn’t need to be any concern. But it’d be nice.
Beasely played 31 minutes Thursday night, scoring 5 points. He also had 4 rebounds, 3 assists and 2 steals. That is fine in a supporting role, but it’d be nice if he could increase that output a little.
Kash Money Khris only played 16 minutes. He had 6 points to start the season. Assuming he plays more, scoring more points would be good.
The Opponent: The Atlanta Hawks
Atlanta lost last season in the first round of the playoff to Boston. But they were able to defeat the Heat in the “pay-in” game. Of course, the Heat then went on to decimate the Milwaukee Bucks in an embarrassing round one series loss.
Last season was much more of a “down” season than an “up” season for Atlanta. They had some turmoil. It has been well-chronicled how much Trey Young and Head Coach Nate McMillian didn’t seem to get along. Now McMillian is gone.
Still Young is a pretty awesome player. Averaging 29.2 points per game last year and sporting a look like Bill Murray in the film “What about Bob?” (once you see it you can’t unsee it), Young can shoot the three and pass the ball (10.2 assists per game). Young leads the team so far this season in scoring, averaging 20.5 points per game.
Clint Capela is the Hawks center. He is leading the team currently with 13 rebounds a game.
Deandre Hunter is back; the forward can play and is a dynamic finisher. Right now he is second on the team in scoring.
The Hawks did not add a ton of depth in the offseason. Instead their addition of new coach Quin Synder and late season addition of Sadiq Bey are two additions the franchise hopes will propel them into the playoffs in the 2023-2024 season.
Things to tell your buddies as you are watching the game
- When you think Hawks you have to think Dominique Wilkins. Born in Paris, France, Wilkins is a hall of famer. Today, he is the play-by-play analyst for Bally Sports Atlanta.
- The Milwaukee Bucks were founded in 1968 as an expansion team. In 1971 they won an NBA championship.
- Remember Jason Kidd. The Bucks traded away two second round picks to get him as a coach. Who did those players end up becoming? One was current Buck Pat Connaughton.
- Pat Connaughton participated in the 2020 NBA Slam Dunk contest. For a stunt dunk he dunked over current Brewer Christian Yelich. He took 3rd.
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