A game to shake off the rust! Both the Bucks and Pacers will enter tonight’s game after suffering embarrassing defeats. So, one of them will leave the floor with a sigh of relief. At the same time, the Indiana side has a golden opportunity to reach the 4th seed, defeating the struggling Wisconsin side. So, do the Bucks have enough assets to withstand the Pacers’ fast-paced offensive system? Unfortunately, it’s doubtful.
In their last two outings, Giannis Antetokounmpo & Co. faced two of the most physical teams in the league, the Magic and Cavaliers. These dominant teams completely strangled the Bucks’ offense, exposing the lack of connectivity within the team. The team managed to generate only 17 assists in each of the two games. However, the Pacers are entirely different compared to the Cavs and Magic.
So, the Bucks can use their tall frontcourt to full effect, but the only question is, will Giannis Antetokounmpo lace up tonight? Well, the team has listed the superstar in the Probable category, citing a calf injury. You may think that Coach Doc Rivers could run the floor with Damian Lillard, but the team had listed the guard also in the probable category, citing groin soreness. With the stars less likely to play, the team is currently in a vulnerable spot.
Moreover, the thin bench of the Bucks doesn’t seem to help the team. Speaking about the bench, Rivers said, “When we subbed in with the second unit and they stopped moving the ball… We never got our rhythm back. I thought we lost our rhythm from that point on,” after the Cavs’ loss. In short, the Bucks may suffer yet another embarrassing loss. Anyway, let’s take a closer look at the starting lineups and depth charts for a better understanding.
Giannis Antetokounmpo & Co. vs the Pacers: Starting Lineup and Depth Chart
Looking at the starting lineup, the team will need Taurean Prince, Kyle Kuzma, and Brook Lopez to step up on the offensive end to cover for two superstars’ injuries. However, they were only listed in the probable category, so there are positive chances for either of them to lace up for tonight’s game.
The Milwaukee Bucks
STARTING LINEUP
SECOND UNIT
THIRD UNIT
PG
Kevin Porter Jr.
Ryan Rollins
Jamaree Bouyea
SG
Taurean Prince
AJ Green
Andre Jackson
SF
Kyle Kuzma
Gary Trent Jr.
–
PF
Tyler Smith
–
–
C
Brook Lopez
Jericho Sims
–
The Indiana Pacers
STARTING LINEUP
SECOND UNIT
THIRD UNIT
PG
TJ McConnel
Quenton Jackson
RayJ Dennis
SG
Andrew Nembhard
Ben Sheppard
Johnny Furphy
SF
Aaron Nesmith
Bennedict Mathurin
Jorace Walker
PF
Pascal Siakam
Obi Toppin
Enrique Freeman
C
Myles Turner
Thomas Bryant
Tony Bradley
Even though the Pacers’ roster looks stacked, they are missing one key piece. It’s none other than Tyrese Haliburton. The star guard hasn’t played in the last three games, suffering from a hip injury. And guess what? The team has lost all three games. Moreover, the team listed him out for tonight’s game. So, the short-handed Bucks may have a chance to end their losing streak. Who will win the game? Let us know in the comments.
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