NBA Cup action returns tonight as the Milwaukee Bucks play the Miami Heat at the Kaseya Center. The Bucks remain undefeated in group play and are hopeful this trend continues and springboards them back into winning ways after losing their last five games, including a 12-point loss to a very shorthanded Portland Trail Blazers team on Monday. On the other side, the Heat are scorching—winners of five in a row, thanks in large part to the play of sophomore centre Kel’el Ware.
The Bucks are simply discombobulated at the moment. Over the last five games, their inability to stop dribble penetration has sent opponents to the free throw line ad nauseam (seventh-worst in the league). In turn, this poor point-of-attack defence has demanded help, resulting in open looks for three—the Bucks are giving up the third-most three-pointers per game in this stretch and have the second-worst opponent three-point percentage (41.2%). To top it off, they’re also bottom-three in the league in opponent points off turnovers, so taking care of the ball is an issue too. Fun, huh? It’s not all doom and gloom, though. Ryan Rollins continues his ascension, and Bobby Portis has gotten back to his bucket-making ways after a rough start to the season shooting-wise. Surprisingly, the Bucks also seem to have rectified their defensive rebounding issues, ranking first in opponent second-chance points and second in defensive rebounding percentage (76.3%) over the last five games. So, while the team hasn’t played up to the sum of its parts recently, it has shown it can mix it up with the best of them when all is clicking. And there are significant parts on their way. Until then, let’s hope the Bucks have been listening to Ricky Martin’s “The Cup of Life” on repeat in preparation for tonight’s game—and that they really want it. Yes, I went there.
After playing .500 ball through their first six games, the Heat have found their groove, winning nine of their last 12 and five in a row. Kel’el Ware has been a beast on both ends of the court, averaging a double-double and complementing that with a block and a steal per game. But his recent play has been even better: 20 points and 18 rebounds vs. Dallas, 20 and 16 vs. Philadelphia, and 20 and 14 vs. Chicago. He’s also hitting a three per game on over 38%. The Heat have had more good news recently too, with the return of Milwaukee native Tyler Herro, who put up 24 points and seven rebounds on 12/18 from the field in his first game of the season against the Mavericks. Needless to say, tonight’s matchup will require everything these Bucks have.
For the Bucks, Giannis (left adductor; strain) is questionable. Taurean Prince (neck; surgery) and Kevin Porter Jr. (right knee; meniscus surgery) remain out.
For the Heat, Jaime Jaquez Jr. (right hip; tightness), Nikola Jovic (right hip; impingement), Dru Smith (left hip; contusion) and Andrew Wiggins (left hip flexor; strain) are all questionable. Norman Powell (left groin; strain) is probable and Terry Rozier remains out.
Doc Rivers has been maligned for some time by fans, but his status with players (and peers) hasn’t waned. Revered for his ability to forge connections, to motivate, and to engage the unquantifiable—the intangible human side of basketball—Rivers’ impact on players has, by all accounts, transcended the sport. This is truly a gift and, along with his 2008 title with the Boston Celtics, a key reason he was named one of the NBA’s 15 greatest coaches of all time. But with the Bucks in free fall, they, fans, the organisation, need something more. Something tangible. While Rivers has shown a greater willingness to try new things than he has in the past—zone defence, playing youth over vets—recent decisions have felt more like throwing darts blindfolded than anything with strategic substance (see the decision to start Jericho Sims against the Blazers). Flanked by a coaching staff that has a wealth of experience—including ex-head coaches Dave Joerger and Darvin Ham—Rivers simply must do more to guide this ship through the storm. Facing arguably the best contemporary coach—the Miami Heat’s Erik Spoelstra—tonight’s battle on the sideline will certainly tell whether or not Rivers still has what it takes. If he doesn’t, let’s hope Jon Horst takes Heat associate head coach Chris Quinn on a very long lunch.
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