Relax, you need some information first: what’s left of the Milwaukee Bucks takes on the Detroit Pistons tonight in the Motor City. It’s game 80 of the season and the Pistons have wrapped up the first-seed in the East, while the Bucks are locked into the 11th or 12th spot. And you know what that means—meaningless basketball! Still, just like me, you’ll tune in because we are basketball Bucks sickos, finding comfort in the numb. Despite sitting at opposite ends of the Eastern Conference standings,
the season series between Milwaukee and Detroit has been relatively close, with the Pistons leading two games to one. Will they clench the series with a win tonight, or will the makeshift Bucks level it up?
Where We’re At
Despite the NBA investigating the Bucks for “their handling of the player participating policy,” Milwaukee continues to field tanking unconventional lineups, including sitting seven of their top players against the Nets—take that, NBA PA, Shams Charania, and anyone else who’s taken umbrage. And, hey, if Giannis gets his wish, we might even see a lineup featuring three Antetokounmpos! But only if it’s about winning and culture, right Giannis? Squabbles aside, it’s been refreshing seeing the Bucks play as a team recently, especially one driven by Ryan Rollins, Ousmane Dieng, and other young(ish) Bucks like Pete Nance and Jericho Sims who could stick around long-term (shout-out to Cormac Ryan, too, who’s doing everything he can to earn an extended look in Milwaukee or elsewhere). Also, with yesterday’s loss to the Nets, the Bucks are just a game ahead of the Chicago Bulls in the standings. So, if you’re feeling down, that might (paradoxically) ease your pain.
The Pistons, meanwhile, have earned the right to play—or sit—whoever they want after locking up the best record in the Eastern Conference. A gritty defensive team that pays homage to Detroit teams of yesteryear, the Pistons’ attention is focused on postseason success after losing to the New York Knicks 4-2 in the first round last year—and not winning a series since 2007-2008. Coach J.B. Bickerstaff will likely feature in end-of-season Coach of the Year conversations, and the Pistons have to be happy with how he’s led the team to success in the recent absence of should-be-but-can’t-be MVP candidate Cade Cunningham (eight wins, three losses). But for a coach who’s relied on depth and players coming through in waves—11 players average over 17 minutes per game on the season—Bickerstaff still has work to do figuring out who deserves to be in the inevitably-shortened playoff rotation. Tonight, then, might just have meaning after all.
Injury Report
With the Bucks on the second night of a back-to-back, their official injury report hasn’t yet been submitted. However, with Giannis (knee), Kyle Kuzma (Achilles), Kevin Porter Jr. (knee), Bobby Portis (wrist), Ryan Rollins (hip), Gary Trent Jr. (hip), and Myles Turner (ankle) all out against the Brooklyn Nets yesterday, we’re likely in for some interesting rotations once again tonight.
For the Pistons, Cade Cunningham (left lung; pneumothorax) and Isaiah Stewart (left calf; strain) are both questionable.
Player to Watch
After a rocky first half to the season, in which he was barely in the rotation—just 14.4 MPG in 30 of the team’s first 41 games—Jericho Sims’ second half has been nothing short of inspiring. Prior to yesterday’s game against the Nets, Sims had appeared in 33 of a possible 37 games, averaging what-would-be career highs of 22.7 MPG, 5.9 PPG, 6.7 RPG, and 1.9 APG (he even had a career-high-tying six assists against the Nets last night). But this pattern of deficiency and excellence is not limited to the first and second halves of the season. Overall, Sims has proven elite in points per shot attempt (99th percentile for bigs), effective field goal percentage (99th percentile) and, surprisingly, assist to usage ratio (91st percentile), per Cleaning the Glass. Yet, he’s also proven poor in steal percentage (9th percentile), block percentage (10th percentile), and, true to the eye test where his hands often look like two balloons, turnover percentage (0th percentile—yes, apparently that is a thing!). All considered, this Jekyll-and-Hyde profile shouldn’t be surprising—Sims is an NBA journeyman after all. However, with all eyes on the future, if Sims can even marginally shore up these weaknesses, his efficiency alone could make him a far more impactful rotation piece moving forward. What better time to start than tonight, against budding All-Star big Jalen Duren?
How To Watch
Tune in at 6:00 p.m. CDT on FanDuel Sports Network Wisconsin.
