Predicting the Cavs’ record against divisional rivals
By Doug Patrick
The Milwaukee Bucks: 0-4
The Milwaukee Bucks are a scary team for anyone to play but especially so for the Cavs.
No longer can Cleveland use LeBron James or Jeff Green to “contain” still-only-23-years-old Giannis Antetokounmpo.
Instead, this job will be outsourced to players like Larry Nance Jr. and Tristan Thompson—decent defenders in their own right but clearly lacking the speed and overall defensive awareness it takes to stop a constant threat like Giannis.
Do I want Nance or Thompson picking up the Greek Freak while he plays point guard? Not at all. Seems like a recipe for plenty of blow-bys with little in the way of proper personnel to play help defense.
But it’s not like help defense would do much…
Oh, and let’s not forget about Khris Middleton.
Developing into more than just a 3-and-D wing, Middleton is becoming a capable creator for himself, especially in the midrange. He held a better field goal percentage on shots after taking 3-6 dribbles than zero (51.2 percent vs. 46.2 percent), according to NBA.com.
The Cavs may have enough defenders in Cedi Osman, David Nwaba and Rodney Hood to throw at Middleton to prevent him from having big games. However, with a three-point stroke good for 36.3 percent last season, these players will want to stick close to him.
Milwaukee also added key floor stretchers in Brook Lopez and Ersan Ilyasova to their front court to open up more driving lanes for Antetokounmpo—two talented veteran acquisitions that can take some minutes from a more one-dimensional John Henson.
But perhaps their biggest signing was that of new Head Coach Mike Budenholzer. Coach Bud was famous for his team-oriented systems in Atlanta, and he may find ways to get the best out of Milwaukee’s supporting cast to lessen the load on both Giannis and Middleton. He could allow them to play to their strengths and fit within a system rather than be the system.
There’s always a chance that the Cavs could catch Giannis and/or Middleton on an off-night but with a consistent and reliable Budenholzer at the helm, these odds have diminished.
The Cavs best hope is that one of their wingers becomes a big enough threat that Milwaukee does not have the luxury of putting Giannis onto Love in the post. Love is oftentimes bothered by long and athletic defenders, like Draymond Green.
Again, don’t forget about Middleton. He is a great defender and someone who could take up much of the perimeter responsibilities on the defensive end, stopping guys like Hood and Sexton from getting going.
Giannis may then easily find himself in that quarterbacking role on defense as the de facto center, closing down passing lanes and challenging everything near the hoop.
Look for the Bucks to only get better on both offense and defense this season while their best player—and perhaps the best player in the East—is a complete matchup problem for the Cavs.