Milwaukee Bucks vs. Cleveland Cavaliers: Game Time, TV Schedule, Live Stream and Preview

Milwaukee Bucks (1-2) @ Cleveland Cavaliers (2-0) — Quicken Loans Arena 6:00 PM CT 

It will be a flashback from the past when the Bucks first take to the Quicken Loans Arena tonight. For the first time since 2009, they’ll more thank likely witness LeBron James throw the chalk up in the air before tip-off.

This time though, like his voyage in Miami, James will have a couple sidekicks. Point guard Kyrie Irving will miss tonight’s match up, but the secondary piece to the new big three puzzle has shined in Cleveland’s two preseason games. Kevin Love has shot 61% from the floor in the Cavs two wins, including a dynamic 25 point performance in Rio, Brazil on Saturday. Love shot 9-12 from the floor including a 4/5 showing from downtown.

While the Cavs are building the chemistry needed to live up to the expectations placed upon them, the Bucks will be experimenting with their roster tonight.

Head coach Jason Kidd will go with his big lineup for the first time this preseason, which includes 6’11” Giannis Antetokounmpo starting at point guard. The Bucks have wheeled out three different lineups this preseason and are continuing to search for the right player rotations for situational basketball.

No matter what the situation is, the Bucks coaching staff understands that Antetokounmpo has to get as many touches as possible for them to have any remote chance at success.

That process starts tonight against LeBron James and the Cleveland Cavaliers.

The Intangibles

Radio: 620 WTMJ-AM (Ted Davis/Dennis Krause)

TV: NBA TV/Sportstime Ohio (Cavs Coverage)

Online: League Pass Audio

Social Media: @BehindTheBucks | @KJGCavaliers

Last Time Out

The Bucks had a hard time getting anything going on Saturday against the Chicago Bulls. It took a fourth quarter switch at point guard to even muster a run at the Bulls superior post play. Giannis Antetokounmpo came into the ballgame at the start of the fourth and forced the Chicago defense to adjust to his ability to get into the lane.

The Greek Freak went 4/4 in the paint in the fourth to make it somewhat of a ballgame.

Meanwhile Milwaukee struggled to gain any traction in the post. The Bulls front line forced the Bucks into foul trouble. Center Larry Sanders would foul out in the fourth quarter. Ersan Ilyasova floated with 5 fouls as well. He saw 29 minutes on the floor in his first appearance of the year and shot a gaudy 4-20 from the floor.

Kendall Marshall continued to prove that he deserves more playing time simply based on his passing ability. The former Laker couldn’t put the biscuit in the basket, but he had the dish that keeps on giving.

Not only did he have 6 assists, but he was also able to finely tune the pick and roll game with Larry Sanders in the paint. He found his rhythm at the beginning of the third quarter when he assisted on five straight made field goals to four different Bucks.

That’s the type of production that will get you playing time.

LeBron James Out

According to Fox Sports’ Sam Amico, LeBron James will rest and not play tonight’s game against the Bucks with two more games on the slate this week for the Cavaliers.

James has reportedly battling a sore back throughout the preseason. You can’t blame David Blatt and the Cavaliers staff for sitting James for this game. The fan in me wants to believe that he’s afraid to guard Giannis Antetokounmpo.

Oh man, if that true — the fuel on the LeBron James speculation fire would explode upon spark.

The truth is, the Cavaliers and James are doing their best to manage his playing time so that he is fresh for all 82 games of the 2014-15 campaign.

Don’t you worry Bucks fans. The king will face off against the freak four times in the regular season.

Projected Starters/Injury Report

The Cavs have continued to impress with their interior play early in the preseason. Kevin Love, Tristan Thompson, and Anderson Varejao are shooting a combined .596 (31-52) from the field andveraging 32.5 points and 29.0 rebounds.

No wonder Vegas is projecting the Cavs at 58 wins this year. If their frontcourt can keep any resemblance of that production, they will be impossible to stop in the paint.

Especially when you factor in that LeBron James is one of the best in the world at getting to the glass and finishing.

For the Bucks, It’ll be nice to see Khris Middleton back in the starting lineup. He has been an offensive spark in the two games that he has played in. He’ll also add outside touch to Jason Kidd’s “Big” lineup.

We’ll also get to see how Giannis Antetokounmpo responds to being Milwaukee’s floor general. Even if he makes some early mistakes, expect Jason Kidd to stick with him. With Brandon Knight out, this is a chance for Kidd to put plenty of tape together of his future star at point guard.

It will also be interesting to see how Jabari Parker looks at small forward. Who would of thought that in May that Giannis Antetokounmpo would be possibly kicking it out to the wing to Jabari Parker?

Golly.

I love basketball.

Injury Report

I tell you what, boy does Sam Amico have the scoop over there in Cleveland. Not only does he know that LeBron James will sit out this game, but he also has the scoop on Moondog?

Kyrie Irving will also miss tonight’s matchup with ankle issues. Tristian Thompson is a game-time decision with shoulder soreness.

For the Bucks, Brandon Knight will sit out tonight’s game due to a groin strain. Fellow point guard Nate Wolters will return though after battling a sprained ankle. He practiced Wednesday and should be part of tonight’s rotation.

Rookies Johnny O’Bryant and Damien Inglis are both out indefinitely. O’Bryant received news yesterday that his strained MCL will not require surgery. He will miss somewhere in the neighborhood of 6-8 weeks to rehab his knee. Inglis is still recovering for surgery on his ankle.

Common Ground

Man, Jason Kidd still has a lot of connections in this league.

•  New Milwaukee assistant coach Joe Prunty was an assistant with the Cavaliers for three seasons before joining Jason Kidd’s staff in Brooklyn last year.
• Cavs small forward Shawn Marion will get the start tonight in place of LeBron James. He won a championship with Bucks head coach Jason Kidd in Dallas. They also played together in Phoenix.
• Cavalier forward Brendan Haywood also played with Kidd in Dallas.

Three Things to Watch

1.) The Giannis Antetokounmpo Show

Is there really any other reason to watch this game?

No LeBron? No problem.

Bucks fans are excited to see what the Greek Freak can do at point guard. There might not be a lot of wins to look forward to this season, but the development of Antetokounmpo as a weapon in this league is well worth taking it to the chin as a fan.

Ladies and Gentleman, welcome to the GA Show — first showing is tonight at 6 PM CT.

2.) Jabari Parker at Small Forward

The rook really wants to settle in at power forward, but he might just be best suited to play small forward in a big lineup. Playing him out of the post gives the Bucks so many different looks and like Giannis, he has a better chance of spreading the floor at the three.

Parker faces a true test tonight as well with defensive mastermind Shawn Marion getting the start for the Cavaliers.

If he has a size advantage at any point, It’d be nice to see him work more on his post-up game as well.

3.) More Middleton

One of the more unique story lines for the Bucks heading into the regular season is where Khris Middleton fits. I buy into the fact that he is going to be a solid contributor for this team. At the end of the day, I think he belongs more in a small forward role, but if he can cut to the glass a bit more — he could be an asset at shooting guard.

His shooting has been on point so far this preseason.

That’s a weapon that could separate him from the pack of guards vying for playing time.