Bucks vs Spurs Preview- Wemby Time?
There are only two games on the NBA slate for tonight and one of them features our beloved Milwaukee Bucks. Milwaukee lost last night to the Pacers and this quick back-to-back is certainly not ideal. Thankfully, the game is very winnable against a team that just has not seemed like it has learned how to win.
The (24-10) Milwaukee Bucks take on the (5-28) San Antonio Spurs on the road in a game that features the best team in the NBA and one of the worst teams. The game is being broadcast nationally on TNT. You can also catch it on Max through the Bleacher Report Add-On.
This is the second, and final time, these teams will play this season. Milwaukee won game one in Milwaukee 132-119.
Back in May I posited an unusual premise that got me quite a bit of flack: Could and should the Bucks trade Giannis Antetokounmpo for Victor Wembanyama? That piece is here.
I still don’t think it was that absurd but after a thorough online “beat down”, I do remain glad we have Giannis. Of course the Bucks did end up making a huge roster move anyways in trading for Damian Lillard.
Milwaukee Bucks Keys to Victory
Hit some threes: Dame Time
Milwaukee really struggled to shoot the three vs Indiana. In both losses Milwaukee shot well below their season average from behind the arc. (38%) In the loss last night (142-130) Milwaukee was close (37.8%). Unfortunately for the Bucks Indiana did better from 3, shooting 14-35 (40%). In the loss on New Year’s Day to Indiana(122-113) , Milwaukee shot a putrid 10-40 from 3.
Dame Lillard has experienced a slight “cold shooting” streak. He was 3-17 from 3 against the Pacers. He is a better shooter, player and scorer. Against Detroit, Milwaukee was lights out, hitting 19-42 (45.2%). Lillard led the way there. He’s a pro: he’ll score in bunches again.
Related: Former NBA Coach Calls Bucks a “Finals Team”
“You go, I go”
The scoring burden seems to fall on Dame and Giannis. So, Giannis certainly is scoring. He leads the team with 30.3 points per game. You know who else on this roster who could score that many? Maybe someone who scored 71 last year?
It appears to be Dame’s time “to go”. If he scores over 30, which he could, then let’s go!
Giannis is 3rd in the league right now averaging 30.3 points a game.
Lillard is 15th in the NBA right now and is only averaging 24.8 points a game.
So this game, assuming they both play, should be “you go, I go”- Giannis gets a dunk, Dame gets a 3.
Also, Milwaukee is shooting 50% from the field this season (3rd in the NBA). They need to keep scoring and that should be enough in this game against a pretty inferior opponent.
The Opponent: The Spurs
It’s Victor Wembanyama time! The Spurs, as a team, only average 110.1 points per game. The Spurs number one overall pick leads the team in scoring with 18.9 points per game. He also leads the team in rebounding with 10.2 rebounds per game.
Greg Popovich is a legendary, amazing coach who gets the most out of his players. He has been Mr. USA Basketball and is already in the coaching basketball hall of fame.
He also does not like it when fans boo.
Popovich has a good young roster that simply has not figured out how to defend the three or really score when they need to. If Wembanyamam is their “top line” player and he only is scoring 18.9 points per game that speaks to the struggle this team is having: scoring the basketball.
Keldon Johnson is having a nice season for the Spurs. He averages 17.6 points a game and over 6 rebounds.
Jeremy Sochan starts at small forward. He plays a Khris Middleton-type role in the offense. The problem is his three point shooting (34%) and field goal percentages (41%) have been pretty bad.
Malaki Branham plays the point guard even though he is a shooting guard trapped in a point guard’s body. The former first round pick is young and doesn’t pass all that well (2.4 assists per game).
Like Branham, guard Devin Vassell can play. But he is so much more of a scorer than a distributor. (18.1 points per game).
Dougie “Buckets” provides a veteran presence for the Spurs off the bench. The 31 year old plays around 15 minus a game and around 6 points, usually in the form of an erratic three.
Things to tell your buddies as you are watching the game
- This topic came up again just the other day: if you could only keep one professional Wisconsin sports franchise who would it be?
- Former Bucks great Alvin Robertson played for both San Antonio and Milwaukee. He was a 3x NBA steals category leader. Right now Giannis currently leads the team in steals (1.3). In the 1990-1991 season Robertson averaged 3 steals a game.
- The Spurs lead the all-time series 53-45.
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