Milwaukee Bucks Deep Dive

By: Melo Williams 

Now that NBA All-Star Weekend has come and gone it’s time for the Milwaukee Bucks (41-17) to defend the final stretch of the regular season like it’s been defending teams all season long.

The Bucks won 12 consecutive games before the All-Star break and will try to carry that momentum for the remaining 24 games in the regular season.

The Bucks will be facing that daunting task without Giannis Antetokounmpo who will be sidelined for an unspecified amount of time due to a sprained ligament in his right wrist.

Antetokounmpo was seen with a wrap on his right wrist during Sunday’s All-Star Game and played just 20 seconds before being subbed out.

The Greek Freak flew from Salt Lake City to New York City on Monday for additional evaluation and it revealed there was no serious damage that was a sigh of relief for the Bucks and #FearTheDeer fans everywhere. Besides no major structural damage to the wrist, the benefit is that now Giannis will be able to get some much-needed rest.

Bobby Portis will also be remaining sidelined with a sprained right MCL knee injury that he suffered before All-Star Weekend.

Milwaukee had two open roster spots that needed to be filled. Per league rules, at least one spot had to be filled to meet the league’s minimum roster requirements ahead of their next game which is Thursday, February 23 versus the Miami Heat.

The Bucks used one of those open roster spots signing center Meyers Leonard to a 10-day contract who adds size and shooting that can stretch the floor. He’s not the best defender or shot blocker by a long shot, but he fit what the Bucks do on defense.

However, signing Leonard brought some criticism to Buck’s front office.

While playing a popular video game “Call of Duty” on a live stream in March 2021, Leonard used a known anti-Semitic slur “k–e” to address another player online.

“F–ing coward, Leonard said on the live stream. “Don’t f–king snipe me, you f–king k–e b—h.”

Moments later, the live stream ended and Leonard issued an apology later in the evening. He claimed he did not know what the word meant.

The NBA fined Miami Heat center Meyers Leonard $50,000 and suspended him from the team facilities and all activities for one week.

ESPN reported that the Bucks had been monitoring Leonard for more than a year, including watching him in a recent workout because Milwaukee was interested in acquiring a big man with some shooting ability.

With Giannis and Bobby Portis being sidelined, Leonard will most likely play a lot of minutes until Antetokounmpo and Portis return.

The Bucks made some moves at the trade deadline dealing for Jae Crowder and sent out Jordan Nwora, George Hill, and Serge Ibaka.

TEAM STATS:

114.8 PPG 13th
49.2 RPG 1st
24.7 APG 18th
111.6 OPPG 6th

Home Record: 24-5 118.9 points
Away Record: 17-12 110.8 points

11-5 January, 7-0 February

The Bucks have played 41 games with one day of rest and their record is 28-13
On more than one day rest: 13-4

Giannis Antetokounmpo 31.8 PPG (3rd) 12.2 RPG (2nd) 5.4 APG 53.8%
Khris Middleton 13.6 PPG 3.8 RPG 3.9 APG 42.1%
Brook Lopez 14.5 PPG 6.5 RPG 2.4 BPG 50.7%
Jrue Holiday 19.4 PPG 5.2 RPG 7.1 APG 46.2%
Grayson Allen 10.5 PPG 3.4 RPG 2.4 APG 44.4%
Bobby Portis 14.4 PPG 10.1 RPG 1.8 APG 49.9%

SCHEDULE:

Feb. 24 vs Miami
Feb. 26 vs Phoenix
Feb. 28 vs Brooklyn
Mar. 1 vs Orlando
Mar. 4 vs Philadelphia

Follow Melo on Twitter and Instagram: _@MeloWilliams