NBA Matchups: November 17

MIL @ CLE | IND @ DET | LAC @ PHI | NYK @ MIA | CHA @ TOR | DAL @ MIN | OKC @ NOP | CHI @ DEN

Milwaukee Bucks at Cleveland Cavaliers

Team Totals: Bucks 114, Cavs 121.5

Injury Report: Giannis Antetokounmpo (P, knee), Darius Garland (O, toe), Jaylon Tyson (O, concussion)

Bucks projected starters: Ryan Rollins, A.J. Green, Kyle Kuzma, Giannis Antetokounmpo, Myles Turner

Cavs projected starters: Donovan Mitchell, Sam Merrill, De’Andre Hunter, Evan Mobley, Jarrett Allen

Doc quotes: Said they got the right looks and they just didn’t make their wide-open ones, said the Lakers spaced the floor against them to get good looks.

Atkinson quotes: Said they were struggling against the drop from Memphis, said the MEM frontcourt is “like a wall” but Donovan was able to get it going, said they wanted more size against the Grizzlies, said Mitchell and Mobley “raised their games” in the fourth, said they are not making shots and they have to look at the quality of looks, said Garland is the “JA whisperer” for them, said “I don’t think the shot quality was great,” said the Grizzlies playing so much drop threw them off, said they went to a heavier switch scheme late and it worked well for them in the fourth.

Stats and Notes: 

*The Bucks are not playing the same on defense as a subpar rim defense, and they’re one of the worst teams at limiting O rebounds. They’re a bottom-10 defense overall, and they are also in the bottom 10 for defensive strength of schedule. This team does not have a great defense, but it’s just a different approach instead of being a heavy PNR handler attack like it was in previous years. For the Cavs on defense, they’ve been excellent on the ball with the second-best PNR handler points allowed, and they’re an above-average transition defense despite playing Miami twice. The Cavs also protect the paint quite well overall to make this a tough spot for the Milwaukee offense.

*Giannis Antetokounmpo gets a really tough matchup with Evan Mobley set to guard him here. Well, Giannis did light up Mobley earlier this season with a 40/14/9 line in just 33 minutes. Antetokounmpo is scoring 2.06 PPP as a roll man, and he’s up to 61 dunks already. He’s matchup-proof at this point.

*Kyle Kuzma should be locked into the starting lineup, and he will get a tougher matchup in De’Andre Hunter. He’s coming off a brutal game against the Lakers, and I wouldn’t want to get too deep into the Bucks because it’s just the Giannis Show. Ryan Rollins should be able to get heavy minutes for guard defense, so he’s somewhat viable.

*Donovan Mitchell has been on a tear to start, and he turned in a strong 24/3/4 line against the Bucks earlier this year despite going just 1-of-8 on treys. With Darius Garland out, Mitchell should have a huge role, and he’s shooting 59.6% on drives this year. With Mobley dealing with a tougher matchup, I’d expect more offense to go through Mitchell.

*Evan Mobley will have his hands full with Giannis, but Mobley was fine with his 23/8/6 line against the Bucks earlier this year. He’s finally found his jumper, and Kenny Atkinson has been pushing up Mobley’s minutes. With Jarrett Allen not playing as much lately, it could still be an OK spot for Mobley.

*De’Andre Hunter should be in an OK spot here with Kuz on both ends, but I’d prefer Mobley or Mitchell.

Great matchups: Donovan Mitchell, Jarrett Allen

Good matchups: De’Andre Hunter, Ryan Rollins

Bad matchups: Evan Mobley

Indiana Pacers at Detroit Pistons (front end)