Starting in Milwaukee
The road-trip will start in Milwaukee where the Bucks are led by the Greek Freak, Giannis Antetokounmpo. Antetokounmpo is having a fantastic season, scoring almost 29 points and grabbing ten rebounds per game. It is not often that you see a player improve their scoring every single season since his rookie season, but Antetokounmpo has done just that. He even received some MVP consideration early in the season due to his incredible start.
The Bucks also have a pretty good supporting cast surrounding Antetokounmpo, led by Khris Middleton. Middleton is a solid small forward that has always given the Warriors problems. Middleton is averaging a career-high 20 points, five rebounds and four assists per game in arguably his best season of his career. Throw in Eric Bledsoe’s 18 points and reigning Rookie of the Year Malcolm Brogdon’s 13 points per game, and the Bucks present the Warriors with a formidable foursome.
Even with a full roster, the Bucks will be a tough opponent. In the last two visits to Milwaukee, the Warriors have struggled. During their 73-9 season, the Bucks dealt the Warriors their first loss of the season, snapping their franchise record 24-game win streak to start that year. Last season, they had a little more success, narrowly beating the Bucks 124-121 thanks to a Draymond Green steal in the final seconds.
There is no doubt that the Warriors should win this game with a healthy roster, and all indications point to them doing just that. The Bucks have always played the Warriors tough due to their tremendous length and youthful enthusiasm. If the Warriors manage to pull one out in Milwaukee, their next matchup will be the following night in Toronto in arguably the toughest back-to-back of the season.