Milwaukee’s Last Game Before the All-Star Break
The (35-20) Milwaukee Bucks take on the (19-36) Memphis Grizzlies Thursday Night on the road at the FedExForum. This is the first time these teams have played this season. They will meet again in Milwaukee on April 3rd.
The game will be broadcast nationally on TNT.
The Bucks are coming off a tough loss to the Heat that had Bucks Twitter ablaze with “hot takes” on how much better Jrue Holiday is than Damian Lillard. Again, as a reminder to those “fans”, the Bucks gave up Jrue Holiday, Grayson Allen, and the 2029 1st round pick to acquire Lillard. Milwaukee also threw in “pick swaps” in 2028 and 2030.
That is a lot.
So again, the Bucks gave up Holiday and then some to acquire Lillard. I had to school an uniformed Celtics fan who was insistent the Celtics gave up the farm to get Holiday. That was not how this all went down. Portland traded Holiday after the fact to Boston for Malcolm Brogdon, Robert Williams, and two picks (2024 1st round and 2029 1st round pick.) Lillard is the more valuable player.
The bottom line is one loss does not a season make: Milwaukee had a great win vs Denver and Charlotte. They’ll be fine. The Heat just seem to have Milwaukee’s number.
Related: Giannis vs Ja- Giannis Pastoral
Milwaukee Bucks keys
Have some fun and shoot!
The last game before the all-star break can usually yield some memorable performances
The Bucks are 2nd in the NBA in scoring. This could be a “pad the score and numbers” game. Get ready to see Bucks players fighting for rebounds and steals and blocks to pad their statistics.
How about a 20 point effort for Bobby Portis? What about some solid scoring from Pat Connaughton?
Since some different guys are going to have different opportunities, it’ll be time to open it up.
Get better play from their starters.
Milwaukee gave up 40 points to the Heat in the 1st quarter in a loss. The Bucks only managed 28 points so they started the game in a 12-point hole.
In that game Damian Lillard missed a few threes, Giannis missed a wild three and Brook Lopez seemed off.
Brook Lopez ended up going 1-6 from three. Khris Middleton was out and will be out for this game.
Let’s see Milwaukee come out with some energy and play with some passion.
The Opponent: The “Vancouver” Memphis Grizzlies
This continues to be a tough season for the Grizzlies. As a team that is “all in” on Ja Morant, they have had to live and die with his performance.
The Grizzlies also have played 25 different players throughout the year. Vince Williams Jr? GG Jackson? The Grizzlies have a lot of no-name players. It has all felt like a lot for this franchise I’m sure.
Morant is out for the season, after having been suspended for 25 games for brandishing a gun at 5am at a strip club. I wrote about this when it happened but could you even imagine Giannis doing that? I think that’s why everybody loves Giannis so much: his pastoral values.
What an interesting team?! This team can really score; they just can’t defend anybody.
The Grizzlies are loaded with young, long wings. Desmond Bane has taken up the scoring mantle. The big, strong shooting guard plays more like a small forward. He is averaging 24.4 points a game.
Jaren Jackson Jr can play. His scoring is way up (22.3 points per game) and he is a good rebounder.
Santi Aldama is another player to watch for Memphis. The 22-year-old has been in the starting line-up quite a bit for the Griz and is an excellent scorer with his back to the basket.
In a recent loss to Charlotte, the Grizzlies starting lineup was just wild. Jackson Jr and Aldama started in the “frontcourt” and John Konchar, Jacob Gilyard, and Vince Williams Jr. started in the “backcourt”. They did not play a true point guard and they did not play a true center.
Today’s NBA certainly has become “position less”.
Things to tell your buddies as you’re watching the game
- Memphis moved from Vancouver to Memphis in the 2001-2002 season. The first-ever expansion draft pick was current NBA commentator Greg Anthony. Blue Edwards of Milwaukee Bucks NBA Jam fame was also selected by Vancouver. At the time however, he was with the Utah Jazz.
- Justin Timberlake is a minority owner of the Memphis Grizzlies.
- Doc Rivers will be a head coach in the all-star game.
- As a player, Doc Rivers was not “automatic” from the free throw line. He has a career 78.4% mark from the line. As a fun point of comparison, Brook Lopez’s career free throw shooting percentage is better than Rivers (79.6%).
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!