Bucks @ Nets Game 7 Prediction: Back Bucks for Game 7

In this win-or-go-home contest, our expert weighs in on what he forecasts for Game 7...

Tonight, we have the best two words in all of sports: Game Seven.

The Milwaukee Bucks and Brooklyn Nets clash tonight at the Barclays Center, with the Nets looking to protect home court, something that they’ve been able to do in every game this series.

The line opened at a pick ‘em, but has since shifted to favor Brooklyn by two.

In my mind, this game really comes down to how it’s officiated. I know people say officiating doesn’t decide a game, but in certain ways it does. They’ve let Milwaukee play defense much more physically when they were in Milwaukee than the games in Brooklyn.

I know I’m totally going against the public here, but I like the Bucks tonight.

It’s Game 7 and I think the refs will let them be more physical in this win-or-go-home situation for both sides.

It seemed like they figured some things out in Game 6. Giannis Antetokounmpo wasn’t out shooting threes and all but five of his field goal attempts came in the paint.

Defensively, we did see Giannis on Durant a little bit, but not much. People give Mike Budenholzer a lot of crap, understandably so, and rumor is he might be fired with a loss tonight. If I’m Budenholzer, and I see I’m late in the game and trying to trade baskets with KD, that’s the only thing they haven’t gone to full-time defensively.

I don’t know if he’s keeping that in pocket because he doesn’t want the Nets to see it and be able to dissect it on film between games, or what. But with your job on the line, you have to pull out all the stops Bud.

Kyrie Irving will be out tonight while James Harden will play.

Another thing I saw the Bucks do in Game 6 they hadn’t the rest of the series to that point was get offensive rebounds. Brooklyn’s strength used to be in transition, but with Harden playing on one leg essentially, they’re not about to sprint up the court. Before, Milwaukee was trying to prevent that and get back, but have since adjusted and got way more offensive rebounds in Game 6.

While I think Durant plays a great game tonight, I don’t think it’s going to be like what he did in Game 5, where he scored 49. That Giannis switch is coming.

If the Nets are going to win this game, Durant is going to need one of those other guys to step up again like Jeff Green did in Game 5.

Because of that, my prop tonight is actually on the Nets side to go with my Bucks +110.

I like Joe Harris over 2.5 3pt Shots Made. He’s in a bit of shooting slump over the last four games, shooting 5 for his last 24, but I think he’s due to break out. It’s not like he’s not getting the looks, they’re just not falling. I think he gets at least six or seven looks tonight, if he makes one or two early, maybe more. But I think he’s the most likely one to step up to KD’s side in Game 7.