Taking a closer look at the first-round playoff matchup between the Milwaukee Bucks and Detroit Pistons
Records:
Bucks: 60-22
Pistons: 41-41
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Regular Season Series:
Bucks won 4-0
Avg. Score: Bucks 114.5, Pistons 99.75
Summary: The NBA’s top team in the regular season, the Milwaukee Bucks, begin their quest to make it back to the NBA Finals for the first time since 1973-1974. Milwaukee will be without starting guard Malcolm Brogdon for the duration of his series but his absence shouldn’t be a big issue against the Pistons.
Detroit on the other hand is dealing with an injury to its star player Blake Griffin. Griffin didn’t play in the season finale vs the Knicks and in the game before he looked nothing like himself. If he isn’t close to 100% then this series could be ugly.
Stats:
PPG
Bucks: 118.1
Pistons: 107.0
OFF RTG
Bucks: 113.8
Pistons: 109.0
Pace
Bucks: 103.3
Pistons: 97.4
OPP PPG
Bucks: 109.3
Pistons: 107.3
DEF RTG
Bucks: 105.2
Pistons: 109.2
FG%
Bucks: 47.6
Pistons: 44.0
3FG%
Bucks: 35.3
Pistons: 34.8
EFG%
Bucks: 55.0
Pistons: 50.9
Tov%
Bucks: 12.0
Pistons: 12.3
X-Factors:
Bucks: Giannis Antetokounmpo
For the Bucks to win this series they just need Antetokounmpo to do what he did during the regular season. Antetokounmpo is the favorite for MVP and as long as he is healthy then the Bucks should beat the Pistons. Antetokounmpo was held to under 20 points twice during the regular season vs Detroit.
Pistons: Blake Griffin
Griffin is dealing with a knee injury and his play this week didn’t instill confidence in that knee. If he isn’t 100 percent then it’s highly likely that Detroit doesn’t win one game vs Milwaukee. Griffin scored 29 or more points in two of the four meetings and had a triple-double in another vs the Bucks.
Prediction: Bucks in 4
Milwaukee is one of the league’s best teams and the Pistons will likely have a Blake Griffin who is less than 100 percent. Those two things make it likely that Milwaukee wins this series is quick fashion.