Nets @ Bucks Prediction: Expect a lower scoring Game 6
With their backs against the wall, Zach Rainey expects the Bucks to make the only defensive adjustment they can in a do-or-die Game 6...
I think we can all agree that we saw from Kevin Durant the other night was almost otherworldly.
With the Bucks up 76-60 midway through the quarter, Durant harnessed his MVP form and scored 30 points in the final quarter and a half. While the Bucks weren’t making many shots, they were still hanging in there.
As a Bucks to win the series ticket holder, I was hoping against hope that the Bucks would pull that game out and go up 3-2 going back to Milwaukee. But then Durant made possibly the biggest play of the game.
With the shot clock winding down, Durant gets the ball basically at one step over midcourt with 2.9 seconds on the shot clock and somehow was able to take a dribble and get closer with those long strides of his and pulled up in Khris Middleton’s face with 1.4 on the clock just to watch it go through the bottom of the net. It was at that moment I knew, the Bucks had no chance of winning that game.
But after playing literally the entire game, I’m wondering if Durant has enough left in the tank for a repeat performance. He’s not getting 27 from Green again, and nothing I saw from James Harden makes me think he should even be playing right now. He had a couple of typical Harden assists, but literally hit one shot and was 0-for-8 from the field. I think he was out there so, if he hit one of his shimmy stepback threes, it would ignite the team and the crowd Willis Reed style.
I don’t think we see a repeat performance from KD tonight in Milwaukee. Whether or not he’s tired or worn out after that Game 5, we’ll see. But the officials have let the Bucks, particularly P.J. Tucker play play a lot more physical with Durant than when they’re at the Barclays Center.
Also, after Game 5, Giannis Antetokounmpo told reporters he wanted to be the one to defend Durant.
Whether or not head coach Mike Budenholzer makes that switch from Giannis as mostly a helpside defender remains to be seen, but In my mind, anything is better than Durant putting that many on your heads again.
If Giannis is going to guard KD, I like Milwaukee to pull this game out. They’re a great defensive team that hasn’t made the ultimate defensive adjustment yet; which is Giannis on KD. I’ll take the under 220.
The under was 1-1 last night, but the totals for both games in Milwaukee were low. Game 3 saw just 169 total points scored and Game 4 was 203 points. I’ll gladly take under 220.5 in this situation.
For our prop bet of the night, I’m taking under 13.5 points from Jeff Green. I still think he provides them with his typical production of around 10 or 11 off the bench, but it’ll be a long way from his Game 5 performance.
