The Bucks are not taking their foot off the gas and always on the lookout for the next team to run over. Can coach Pop somehow stir the Spurs into an upset?
HOME TEAM: Milwaukee Bucks (31-5, 17-2 at home)
The Milwaukee Bucks are doing everything well, and it’s well-reflected in their league-leading record and all the other stats they highly rank on. They are the best scoring (119.4 PPG) and shooting (48.3%) team in the league and also flex their defensive muscles by placing first in defensive efficiency. The battle down low is also looking like a cakewalk as Giannis Antetokounmpo and company are number one in paint scoring, paint defense, and rebounding.
The Bucks have also won four-straight games heading to tomorrow’s match-up. They are winning by an average of 15 points in that span and have only allowed opponents to shoot just 37.8% from the floor.
Giannis, with his big-time, all-around numbers (30.4 PPG, 13.0 RPG, 5.6 APG, 1.2 SPG, 1.2 BPG), should be able to bulldoze through the San Antonio Spurs’ defense. Number two man Khris Middleton should be effective as well (22.6 PPG, 7.0 RPG, 5.2 APG in his last five).
Eric Bledsoe will be in his third game back. He’s still being eased back in, though, and has only played 16 and 20 minutes in his last two appearances and posting 12.5 PPG.
ROAD TEAM: San Antonio Spurs (14-19, 4-10 on the road)
The Spurs are doing considerably well over the past few weeks. They are 6-5 in their last 11 games and have scored 116.9 PPG during that stretch, a pretty high output for a Gregg Popovich-coached team.
The sudden outburst on offense is being led by the team’s two All-Stars: DeMar DeRozan and LaMarcus Aldridge. The two have boosted their production over the last several games, especially DeRozan, who’s been scoring 26 PPG on an efficient 64.7%-shooting over his last five. It’s been a crazy run and it’s highlighted by a 10-for-11 and a 13-for-16 shooting night.
Aldridge is at 21.9 PPG and 9.3 PPG on a 55.9% clip in his last seven, and he’ll need all the confidence he can gather against the Bucks’ league-best paint defense. The Spurs are only 24th in scoring within the paint and he’s their best and most reliable option down low.
The Spurs beat the Bucks in their most recent encounter last March 2019, which dates back to the previous season. They won, 121-114, with Aldridge putting up 29 points, 15 rebounds, and two blocks, and DeRozan scoring 28.
PREDICTION:
The Bucks continue to run wild and dispatch the Spurs, 122-113.
