Cleveland Cavaliers: 3 Must-Do's to Avenge the Milwaukee Bucks
Mar 23, 2016; Cleveland, OH, USA; Milwaukee Bucks forward Giannis Antetokounmpo (34) defends Cleveland Cavaliers forward LeBron James (23) in the first quarter at Quicken Loans Arena. Mandatory Credit: David Richard-USA TODAY Sports
The Cleveland Cavaliers play the Bucks tomorrow for the first time since they were blown out by seventeen.
The Cleveland Cavaliers have played four of their last five games at home and won each home game while losing away to Memphis. Just as the Cavs recently did with Memphis, they will play Milwaukee away, then they will play Milwaukee at home on back-to-back days.
These two Eastern Conference foes have already played once this season. The Milwaukee Bucks won that game by seventeen. The Bucks, who are 13-12 and fifth in the East, have lost several winnable games and are a good challenge for the Cavaliers, who have been crushing everything in sight recently.
The Cleveland Cavaliers will also be without Kevin Love, who has been having his best season in Cleveland. He is dealing with soreness and swelling in his right knee which could be a concern later on in the season. The Cavs, who are 19-6 and clearly the best Eastern Conference team, have rested people with ease this season, so this resting could just be precautionary for K-Love.
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They did the same for Kyrie Irving in the two games against Memphis as a precautionary measure, and he looked excellent after his couple games of rest.
With that said, the Cavaliers are still in for a fight, and they must do these three things in order to avenge their seventeen point loss.
Nov 29, 2016; Milwaukee, WI, USA; Milwaukee Bucks forward Giannis Antetokounmpo (34) drives for the basket as Cleveland Cavaliers guard Iman Shumpert (4) defends during the second quarter at BMO Harris Bradley Center. Mandatory Credit: Jeff Hanisch-USA TODAY Sports
Slow the Down the Greek Freak and the Buck Bench
Giannis Antetokounmpo has been as excellent as his nickname; he has been a Greek Freak this season.
Giannas has averaged 22.6 points per game on a terrific 52.4% from the field, AND he averages 9.1 rebounds, 6.0 assists, 2.1 steals, and 2.0 blocks per game. He is leading the Milwaukee Bucks in each of those stats and is just one of a select few to do that over the course of NBA history.
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The Cleveland Cavaliers were one of Giannis’ victims last time they met. The 6’11” point guard dropped 34 points and 12 rebounds as the Bucks routed the Cavaliers with ease behind a +14 point third quarter.
Last game, the Bucks bench also did excellent. They outscored the Cavaliers bench 48-32, but there is a way to stop the Bucks, and it to make them shoot.
This team is not a shooting team. The Milwaukee Bucks make only 8.7 threes per game which is seventeenth best in the NBA, and it is one of the only ways to slow this team down. In doing that, they really would only have to be concerned with Mirza Teletovic, who is a knockdown three point shooter averaging 2.1 threes per game on 40.0%.
The Cavaliers did this last game by holding them to 7-19 from deep, but in that game they failed to play interior defense allowing the Bucks to go 46-86 from the field which is 53.5%. This game will be more than just making them shoot, but that will be a key for the Cavs.
They are bigger and taller than most teams, and allowing them to shoot will be a crucial “do” for the Cavaliers.
Nov 11, 2016; Washington, DC, USA; Cleveland Cavaliers guard J.R. Smith (5) gestures after making a three point field goal against the Washington Wizards in the third quarter at Verizon Center. The Cavaliers won 105-94. Mandatory Credit: Geoff Burke-USA TODAY Sports
Get J.R. Smith Going
J.R. Smith is not just the starting shooting guard in Cleveland. He, at times, is the heart of the offense, and it has been obvious this season.
While several games this season Smith decides to disappear, the Cavaliers are 6-0 in games where J.R. Smith hits double figures. Smith has been a critical addition for this team as he gives the ability to space the floor and hit nearly impossible shots.
Smith, by far, is having his worst season in his NBA tenure. He has shot a dismal 33.7% from the field and continues to struggle in his position. He is also only scoring 8.8 points per game which is the second worst of his career.
It will be crucial tomorrow as J.R. Smith will most likely matchup against Tony Snell. This game will get out of hand quickly if J.R. Smith can catch fire as he is known for in his career.
This needs to a priority for the Cavaliers. They need to draw up play to get Smith open and to get him on fire. Smith has been and will continue to be a crucial part of this offense so getting him going should be a top goal for the Cavs.
Nov 23, 2016; Cleveland, OH, USA; Cleveland Cavaliers forward Kevin Love (0) positions for a rebound between Portland Trail Blazers guard Evan Turner (1) and forward Maurice Harkless (4) in the third quarter at Quicken Loans Arena. Mandatory Credit: David Richard-USA TODAY Sports
Rebound the Basketball- ALOT
With Chris “Birdman” Andersen out for the season, the Cavaliers will already need to pick up their pace when it comes to rebounding, but they must excel at it tomorrow.
They will be without their top rebounder Kevin Love who averages 10.7 rebounds per game. This means that Tristan Thompson will need to step into a heavier rebounder role along with superstar LeBron James.
With no K-Love, the Cavaliers may attempt to go small with Shumpert at the three and LBJ at the four. This could either be a big success or big failure for Coach Lue and the Cavaliers. The Bucks are a big team, and with the versatile of Giannis, a small-ball lineup may not be successful.
Last time these teams met the Bucks out rebounded the Cavaliers 51-44, and this time around rebounding will be an even more crucial stat.
The Cavaliers are a force in the East, and while this game might not mean too much, it could easily be a playoff preview and is one for all Cavalier fans to watch.
