MIL @ ORL | NYK @ IND | ATL @ CHI | CLE @ MIA | MEM @ NOP | UTA @ HOU | GSW @ SAS | POR @ SAC | OKC @ LAC
Milwaukee Bucks at Orlando Magic
Team Totals: Bucks 107.5, Magic 116.5
Injury Report: Bucks: none listed. Magic: Paolo Banchero (O, ankle), Jonathan Isaac (O, knee), Izaiyah Nelson (O, ankle), Noah Penda (O, hamstring), Jalen Suggs (Q, knee), Jamal Cain (Q, shoulder), Tristan da Silva (Q, calf)
Bucks projected starters: Tyler Herro, Brayden Burries, Nate Ament, Kyle Kuzma, Myles Turner
Magic projected starters: Anthony Black, Desmond Bane, Franz Wagner, Tristan da Silva, Wendell Carter Jr.
Jenkins quotes: Said Jaime off the bench was a good look early, said he thought they competed well, said they have to cool it on the turnovers, said they had a “day in progress” on Wednesday, said Rollins said he was fine after the cut on his eye, said they went with Ament because they liked him on Reaves, said they wanted more size with Ament in the first unit, said they like Jaime in the second unit, said Jak can help them in the second unit.
Sweeney quotes: Said they really controlled the possession battle against UTA, said Morales and the bench guys stepped up with how injured they were.
Stats and Notes:
*The Bucks just can’t get anything going with their 1-11 record, and they’re the only team that’s in the bottom three for both offense and defense. The Bucks’ defense isn’t getting killed anywhere specifically, and it’s just a terrible defense. Their second unit is getting owned in the paint, and that’s pushed them to the sixth-most dunks/layups allowed per game. The Magic defense is in a similar boat with the 25th-ranked halfcourt defense (20th overall). They’ve actually been excellent with rim protection, allowing the fifth-fewest dunks/layups. The Milwaukee guards will have to keep them in this one. The Magic have also allowed the highest potential assist-to-assist conversion rate in the league, so there could be more dimes on the table.
*Tyler Herro didn’t skip a beat with his 27-point night on Wednesday. This matchup is a very good one with the Magic being more into paint protection, and he still held down a strong role, dominating touch time. The Bucks pushing up so many young guys should really condense the usage, and Taylor Jenkins looks like he wants to ride Herro.
*Brayden Burries doesn’t have a great role with Herro in the mix, and his minutes were nuked in the last game. The move of Jaime Jaquez Jr. to the bench may not have helped him much, and clearly Herro will be the lead dog.
*This is just an incredible spot for Franz Wagner. He’s driving at will, and he just dominates touch time, ranking second in QTT (quality touch time). He’s on pace to break Deni Avdija’s record for drives per game, and he’s leading the NBA in passes off drives, too. This team has some of the worst wing defenders in the NBA, and clearly Sean Sweeney doesn’t care about pushing his minutes up too much.
*Nothing else sticks out too much for the Magic, but Anthony Black could get there on volume. Black was driving a ton in the last game with 25 drives, and he’ll be able to attack this defense in the same fashion. Sweeney just doesn’t have much else to go to, and again, the Bucks can’t defend on the perimeter.
Great matchups: Franz Wagner, Tyler Herro
Good matchups: Anthony Black, Brayden Burries
Bad matchups: Myles Turner
New York Knicks at Indiana Pacers
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