What’s up with the Brooklyn Nets?
The Brooklyn Nets are in sixth place in the East, managing to hold on to their playoff spot despite losing Kevin Durant and Kyrie Irving at the trade deadline.
In the deal that gave KD to the Suns, Mikal Bridges has now emerged as the Nets’ first offensive option. He is currently showing everyone that he is a reliable offensive threat just like he was in Phoenix. The 26-year-old is putting up numbers of 30.7 points, 7.0 rebounds, 3.0 assists, and 55.4% shooting from the field every night.
We have other guys like Nic Claxton, Cameron Johnson, and Joe Harris stepping up to the challenge but they would need to do better in the upcoming games as the postseason fast approaches.
Brooklyn should be more consistent on offense if it wants to topple the top team in the East. The Nets have won three of their last games, and pulling off another one against the Bucks can definitely help them stay on track.
What’s up with the Milwaukee Bucks?
Milwaukee is heading into this matchup in admirable form as they have been able to win 18 out of their last 19 matches.
While Giannis Antetokounmpo is dealing with injury concerns that have caused him to leave his last two games early, the Bucks still have top-flight players in Jrue Holiday, Brook Lopez, and Khris Middleton.
Holiday, in particular, is doing a lot for Milwaukee with averages of 19.8 points, 7.1 assists, and 5.2 rebounds. On top of that, he also has been a significant part of Milwaukee’s league-leading defense.
Milwaukee’s balance on both sides of the ball continues, amidst the injury concerns, to prove why it's the number one team in the East. Giannis’ scoring will obviously be missed but there’s a lot of shooting to go around for the whole group.
Prediction
The Bucks are one of the deepest teams in the league, even with injuries, so the Nets would have a hard time overcoming their offensive and defensive strengths.
One of the biggest differences between these two squads is their rebounding, with the Bucks having the advantage on both ends. If the Nets want to steal their spotlight, they have to be more active in getting the boards.
Where to watch
You can catch the Nets and Bucks in action live tomorrow at 9:00 AM on NBA League Pass.
