Bucks Limp Into Cleveland, Cavs Look to Cement East Standing
The Milwaukee Bucks roll into Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse tonight, a team in disarray, frankly. At 28-39, they’re closer to the lottery than any sort of playoff contention, a far cry from the team that hoisted the Larry O'Brien trophy just three years ago. They’ve lost six straight, including a 129-94 drubbing by the Celtics on March 20th where they shot a dismal 39% from the field. Giannis Antetokounmpo is still Giannis, averaging 30.8 points and 11.2 rebounds a night, but even his Herculean efforts can't paper over the cracks of this roster.
Cleveland, on the other hand, is navigating the usual late-season bumps but remains firmly entrenched in the East's top four at 41-27. They're coming off a tough loss to Miami on Sunday, a game where they squandered a 15-point lead and shot just 6-for-34 from beyond the arc. Donovan Mitchell's return from a nasal fracture brought 19 points and 10 assists against the Heat, a welcome sight after he missed seven games. Darius Garland has been stepping up in Mitchell’s absence, averaging 18.3 points and 6.5 assists in March. Thing is, the Cavs need to find consistency from their perimeter shooting if they want to make any real noise in the postseason. That Miami game was a glaring example of what happens when the threes aren't falling.
**Milwaukee's Mismatch Woes**
Look, the Bucks’ defensive identity has evaporated. They're giving up 117.2 points per game, ranking 24th in the league. Last season, they were 10th. Their perimeter defense is particularly porous, allowing opponents to shoot 38% from three-point range, which is 27th in the NBA. Doc Rivers took over as head coach on January 26th, and the team is 10-17 under his watch. It’s hard to blame it all on him, but the results speak for themselves. Khris Middleton, once a reliable second option, is averaging 15.3 points but is shooting just 44% from the field, his lowest since 2017. Damian Lillard has been inconsistent, to put it mildly, and the absence of a true defensive anchor outside of Antetokounmpo is killing them. They gave up 140 points to the Suns on March 17th, for crying out loud.
The Cavs have their own issues, mainly health. Evan Mobley remains sidelined with an ankle sprain, and Dean Wade is out with a knee issue. Those are two key pieces for their defensive scheme. But even without them, Cleveland’s defense is still operating at a high level, allowing just 109.2 points per game, good for 7th in the league. Jarrett Allen has been a force, pulling down 10.7 rebounds and blocking 1.1 shots a night. His screen-setting and rim protection will be crucial against Antetokounmpo. My hot take? The Bucks are so disjointed, even a fully healthy Giannis won't be enough to keep this one close. This Milwaukee team quit weeks ago.
Cleveland handles the Bucks tonight with ease, winning by at least 15 points, and Mitchell drops 30 in a statement game back home.