The Milwaukee Bucks Keep a Great Wisconsin Sports Day Rolling
The (47-27) Milwaukee Bucks take on the (14-61) Washington Wizards on the road Wednesday Night. Damian Lillard is out. This game is a fun one to watch after what is looking like a possible Brewer Home-Opener win.
The Bucks are on a quest to win this year’s NBA Championship and are currently the #2 seed in the Eastern Conference. Washington is currently second-to-last in the East. The Wizards won one NBA Championship in 1978. They used to be called the Bullets. This has all the “vibes” of a trap game for Milwaukee.
Even if it does end up being a “trap-game”, who cares? For the Milwaukee Bucks they have created a “pad” that should allow them to retain the number two seed in the playoffs no matter what.
The Bucks are favored by 14.5 points.
Milwaukee Bucks keys to victory
Defense wins Championships
Had Milwaukee and Bucks’ fans known that Doc Rivers would have had such a positive impact on defense, and not well-renowned “defensive guru” Adrian Griffin, they would have just hired Rivers from the jump.
The Bucks have a defense now that is “top ten” in defensive efficiency (115.7). Given the team started the year in dead last, this all bodes well for a good playoff run.
Related: Getting “Back on Track” for the Bucks
Time to show off the depth
In the “Doc Rivers” era the starters simply play more. Milwaukee now has four players who average over 30 minutes a game: Giannis, Dame, Brook and Malik Beasley (29.9 minutes per game)
Tonight is another one of those games that if you can keep your starters into “limited minutes” it only helps long-term.
AJ Green has looked good and even great in spurts this season. It’d be nice to see him get some playing time tonight (25+ minutes). He has played in fifty games and is averaging around 10 minutes per game. He is shooting over 41% from three.
How about an A.J.J. breakout game?
What about 15+ minutes for Bucks Buyout Hero Danilo Gallinari?
The Bucks need some strong bench minutes tonight.
Pad the stats
This is an NBA regular season game and the show must go on. Giannis Antetokounmpo is the team’s leading scorer at 30.8 per game. Why not just shoot and shoot and shoot and score a quick 40 tonight?
Bobby Portis is only averaging 13 a game. Why not put up a quick 25 points to really help pad those stats?
Again, why not have a Majon game where he snaps and goes for 20? The Bucks need some of their other guys to prove they can hammer on a terrible, terrible team.
The Opponent: The Washington Wizards
The Wizards are in rebuild mode. After having traded Bradley Beal and Kristaps Porzingis the team signaled the team plans to acquire draft picks and try to be great in the 2027 season.
Washington is only (6-31) at home. Yikes!
It is pretty easy to hold your nose up at this roster. The Bucks 6-10 players could easily be “the guy” on this team.
Kyle Kuzma remains. Kuzma (22.5 points per game).Kuzma leads the team in scoring.
Milwaukee Native Jordan Poole was added in the offseason for point guard Chris Paul. Poole can score and is second on the team, averaging 17.0 points per game.
Tyus Jones is also on this squad. The gritty point guard leads the team in assists. (7.3)
Deni Avdija is an interesting player. Now a starter, the former first round pick is averaging over 13 a game. He is lean and plays as big as his 6’9” frame. He is the “break out” player right now for this team.
The Wizards don’t really have a ton of depth. Corey Kispert has been playing a lot off the bench. The 24 yr old 1st round pick averages 10 points a game.
Danilo Gallinari came over from this team midseason.
Things to tell your buddies as you are watching the game
- The Wizards were the Bullets for forever. They rebranded in 1997.
- Depending on your perspective, you can make a line to the Wizards as being part of the original eight NBA teams.
- Michael Jordan played two seasons for the Wizards.
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