After starting their season with a huge road win against the Celtics (who were admittedly tired and missing Gordon Hayward), the Bucks face an even bigger test in the defending Eastern Conference champion Cavs.
Cleveland Cavaliers (1-0)
- 51-31 last season, lost in NBA finals
- 90-117 against Bucks all-time
- Home to the best player in NBA history, J.R. Smith
Offensive Key
One of the things the Bucks didn’t do so well in their great season-opening performance was pass the ball around. They only had 19 assists to Boston’s 23, which is well below last year’s average of 24.2. Giannis also only had 3 assists, which is also below his 5.4 clip from last season. If the Bucks can get a few more assists (principally from Giannis), they should have an even better offensive showing than they did in the season opener. Also, if Giannis can step up his assists while keeping his scoring/rebounding rates, he will be a clear-cut top 5 MVP candidate.
Defensive Key
One of the other areas the Bucks can improve on from game 1 is their steal totals. Against the Celtics, the Bucks only got 6 steals to Boston’s 12, which fell short of last year’s clip of 8 steals a game. It’s no secret that the Bucks have built this team for years based on length, and one of the principal benefits of having a wingspan-heavy starting 5 is being able to rack up a bunch of steals and just stifle opposing offenses. If they can snag 10 or more steals and disrupt the Cavs’ plans, the Bucks will have a great chance to start their season with two monster wins.
Tune in at 6:00 PM CT to see the Bucks open their home slate against a tough Cavaliers team led by the King himself.