Each week here on Bucks Lead you can look forward to reading Bucks Roundup, a recap of last weeks’ games and a look ahead to the upcoming week!
Monday January 8th: Pacers 109, Bucks 96
On the night of the NCAA football National Championship the Milwaukee Bucks were scheduled to play basketball. The Bucks looked as if they might have been more interested in watching the football game. The Bucks did everything wrong from the beginning, trailing 37-16 after the first quarter. The second quarter fared little better for Milwaukee, heading into halftime down 64-38. As you can see the Bucks had 38 points at halftime and the Pacers had 37 after the first quarter, I’m no coach, but that’s not great. The 3rd was much of the same and then the scrubs brought the Bucks back to make the score look respectable but ultimately it was for nothing as the Bucks got trounced in this one. Giannis scored just seven points in the first half and attempted the least amount of field goals (eight) alongside Henson in the starting lineup for the game. It was rough. (Shrug) Middleton scored 15 (shrug). Sterling Brown had 11 off the bench and looked good, so there’s something!
Wednesday January 10th: Bucks 110, Magic 103
It still felt as if the Bucks were still sleepwalking when this one tipped off. But this one was in a good way? I’ll get to this at the end. The Bucks led 30-29 moving into the second quarter. The next 12 minutes were a cold, desolate, barren wasteland of horrendous offense where both teams only seemed to try and out due each others putridness. But somehow, the Bucks held onto a 53-46 halftime lead. Then, the third quarter. Think of it like this — Milwaukee = Giannis, Orlando = Aron Baynes. Squish.
The Bucks finished out the 4th sputtering along but still won comfortably. Antetokounmpo finished with a 26-point showing, which led the team on the night, and made everyone feel better after his Pacers performance. Middleton was playing Robin in this one, dropping 22 points. The three other starters (Bledsoe with 15, Brogdon with 14, and Henson with 14) all finished in double digits as well. Back to my first point, tonight was a good win for the Bucks. Getting a win against a lesser team when they don’t bring their A game is something we haven’t seen too often from them and it’s nice to get a glimpse of what being good is like. Sometimes when your better, your better.
Friday January 12th: Warriors 108, Bucks 94
Even without Stephen Curry, the Warriors shot the Bucks out the gym. The Bucks had a mega run in the third quarter to take the lead but whenever the Warriors need a bucket, they had enough firepower to load it up and get a couple. Kevin Durant had a game high 26 points but it felt like he could have had 40 if he would have tried. For the Bucks, Giannis Antetokounmpo led the way with 23 points. Eric Bledsoe scored 21 points and Malcolm Brogdon helped as well, finishing with 17. Giannis is so productive getting shots at the rim, he had many times tonight where he just reached over the top of the length of Golden State for a finger roll. That being said, the Bucks still have to find a way to get him the ball to make it easier for him. He’s playing 1 on 5 bully ball out there and they have got to figure something out. Against better teams it becomes so clear how badly the Bucks need a more cohesive offense. Also, why was Liggins ever playing over Sterling Brown? Like ever?
Sunday January 14th: Heat 97, Bucks 79
This one was over quite early. Hassan Whiteside beasted the Bucks posting a 15-point, 10-board double-double, adding two steals, four blocks (all four swats came in the 1st Q) and four turnovers in 25 minutes. Early on, the game felt like both teams were out partying in Miami the night before. The first half neither team was able to get anything going as both teams shot 36 percent from the field, including a combined 7/28 from three-point range. 22 fouls were called and it wasn’t pretty overall. Milwaukee never was able to get into a rhythm in the second half either. They scored just 16 points in the third quarter and allowed the Heat to go on a 14-0 run that put the game out of reach. The Bucks shot a season-worst 31.6 percent from the field and just looked like a night in Miami may be too much fun for a young Bucks team.
Bucks Fun (or not-so-fun) Fact of the week:
Blowout losses for the Bucks (10 points or more):
First 36 games: 6 times
Last 6 games: 4 times
This Weeks’ Games
Monday January 15th @ Washington Wizards
The Bucks will take their collective basketball talents to the nation’s capital. John Wall and company have a 25-18 record and are waiting for the chance to distance themselves from the middle sludge of the east. The Bucks will come in having flipped flopped wins and losses for all of 2018. Coming in off of a victory might be a bad omen.
Wednesday January 17th vs. Miami Heat
The Bucks will bring south beach to them as the Miami Heat will travel up to Milwaukee to take on the Bucks at the BMO Harris Bradley Center. The Bucks got whipped by the Heat and they will try to return the favor. This is a good test for the Bucks to see if they can bounce back after a nice trouncing. If the Bucks show up, expect a much more competitive game. Side note: I’m very intrigued to see Kane’s preview for this one. What he thinks the Bucks can and should do different. So be on the lookout for that.
Saturday January 20th @ Philadelphia 76ers
Joel Embiid and Ben Simmons will try and take down the Greek Freak in Philadelphia. The 76ers post a 19-20 record (but 6-11 since December 1st). Simmons is having himself a phenomenal rookie season and already working himself into all-star consideration, which is an incredible rookie feat. Embiid still proves to be one of the most valuable players in the NBA whenever he laces up. The Bucks will have a challenge on there hands trying to corral the Sixers talents.
