Previewing Cavs opponents: Milwaukee Bucks
Cavs news and links for Thursday, September 26.
The first sip
Stock in the Milwaukee Bucks has sunk after consecutive first round exits. But if you still believe Giannis Antetokounmpo is the best player in the league, then now is the time to buy low. As for the Cleveland Cavaliers, they’ll be hoping to surpass the former contenders.
Last year was a cascade of failures for Milwaukee. Their new head coach was replaced by Doc Rivers midseason while the trade for Damian Lillard wasn’t the splash anyone hoped for. Khris Middleton and Brook Lopez looked old. And finally, Antetokounmpo suffered a season-ending injury for the second straight year. All of this has led to the belief that Milawukee’s title window has slammed shut.
But let’s not write them off yet. Giannis is still a world-beater when he’s healthy and his pairing with Lillard could put them over the top against any opponent. Sure, Lopez and Middleton are aging — but being healthy at the right time is all that matters. Depth will remain a concern yet the incoming additions such as Gary Trent Jr, Delon Wright and Taurean Prince could provide them with more than the year before.
Of course, the bulk of responsibility will be on Milwaukee’s core to stay healthy and compete at the highest level. It will be an uphill battle but the Bucks still have a knockout punch if they can stay in the ring long enough to use it.
How the Cavs and Bucks played each other last season
The Cavs and Bucks split their season series, trading wins each time. Most of the games were close — with Cleveland scoring the only blowout behind a 40-point beatdown.
Notably, neither team was healthy during these matchups. Darius Garland and Evan Mobley missed all four games while Giannis was absent from Milwaukee’s worst loss. Considering the Bucks fired Adrian Griffin just 24 hours after their final game against Cleveland, it’s hard to say we got a good look at how these teams stack up.
This season could be different. The Bucks clearly have something to prove while the Cavs are hoping to take their place as contenders in the conference. A year of stability for Milwaukee and a year of growth from Cleveland could lead to some electric battles.
Cavs vs Bucks this season
- in Milwaukee - Nov. 2
- at Home - Nov. 4
- at Home - Dec. 20
- in Milwaukee - March 9
Notable players who have played for both franchises
- Richard Jefferson played a full season in Milwaukee, averaging 19.6 points and appearing in all 82 games. Jefferson, of course, also played two seasons in Cleveland — winning a title in 2016.
- Matthew Dellevadova averaged a career-high 7.6 points and 4.7 assists with the Bucks following his championship season with the Cavs.
- Mo Williams completes our champion trifecta. Williams played four seasons in Milwaukee before first joining the Cavs in 2008. He was named an All-Star in his first run with the Cavs and of course, scored his final NBA bucket in Game 7 of the 2016 NBA Finals.