Philadelphia 76ers (0-1) @ Milwaukee Bucks (0-1) — BMO Harris Bradley Center 7:30 PM CT
It’ll be refreshing tonight when the Bucks host the 76ers in their home opener that both teams won’t be battling for the worst record in the league. At this point of the season, there is no race for Jabari Parker, Andrew Wiggins or Joel Embiid. Will it lead to great basketball this early in the season?
Who Knows.
The Bucks though looked competitive and even better at times than the Charlotte Hornets for three quarters on Wednesday. The 76ers struggled mightily against the Indiana Pacers in their season opener on the road. As our friends at The Sixer Sense put it..
"The game itself was very hard to watch. The Sixers had shooting splits (as a team) of 38 percent, 28 percent and 56 percent on field goals, three-point attempts and free-throws respectively. The missed jumpers, blown lay-ups and ugly shot attempts made me turn to the Indianapolis native beer, Sun King, at $8.50. One was definitely not enough but all I could afford. Unfortunately, this game was watched soberly.Watching the Brandon Davies and Alexey Shved (a combined -15 for the game by the way) pick-and-rolls and give-and-go’s about gave me an aneurysm. Anytime either of those touched the ball, I had almost my entire section booing them. During time-outs, I tried getting Brandon Davies’ attention by booing him and at one point he looked up and I felt accomplished. That was worth the price of admission alone."
Ouch.
What will make it even harder for the 76ers is the fact that the Bucks have won 9 of their last 11 home openers. They are also 6-0 all-time at home on Halloween.
Do you know what the 76ers’ costume is tonight? Looks like their coming to the game in their Tankasaurus costumes..
(See what I did there?)
The Intangibles
Radio: 620 WTMJ (Ted Davis/Dennis Krause)
Online: League Pass
TV: FS Wisconsin
Social Media: @BehindTheBucks | @SixerSense
Last Time Out
The Hornets were down 24 at one time in the third quarter and the Bucks were making big plays defensively in the paint as well with the outside jump shot.
Then things fell apart in the fourth quarter and overtime.
Kemba Walker scored 11 of his 26 points and was clutch with a leaning three to tie it with less than three seconds left. Then Walker hit a beautiful stepback jumper to seal it for the Hornets.
Michael Jordan was all happy afterwards. Not because he gambled $48 Million dollars by signing Kemba to an extension. He was pumped by the fact that his team won by playing with house money.
Brandon Knight, who is part of the same draft class as Walker, just missed an opportunity at a triple double. The Bucks were outscored 32-17 in the 4th quarter. Rookie Jabari Parker struggled in his NBA debut at times, but did flash his athleticism with a coast-to-coast layup and an emphatic one handed dunk.
Forever Young
There will be a lot of young faces on the hardwood for both the 76ers and the Milwaukee Bucks tonight. The Philadelphia 76ers had the youngest team in the league this year. That trend will continue this year, with just two players (Jason Richardson and Luc Mbah a Moute) having more than three seasons under their belt.
According to the NBA, The 76ers’ average age on opening night was 23.9.
The Bucks’ roster is an average age of 24.2.
The 76ers are looking to build around their interior youth, led by Nerlens Noel and Joel Embiid. Noel missed all of last season, but is looking to make a strong rookie impression. Embiid will miss most of, if not all of this season after injuring his foot just prior to the 2014 NBA Draft.
The Bucks have just three players on their roster that are 26 or older. Zaza Pachulia, Ersan Ilyasova and Jared Dudley may be the veterans on this team.
Rookie Jabari Parker, fellow 19 year-old Giannis Antetokounmpo and Larry Sanders solidify a young core for the Bucks. With 23 year-old Brandon Knight possibly being part of the long term plans as well.
Common Ground
- 76ers forward Luc Mbah a Moute was drafted by the Bucks in 2008 and played for three seasons in Milwaukee.
- Bucks assistant coach Greg Foster served as a player development coach for the 76ers last season.
- The All-Time Series between the Bucks and & 76ers is all tied up at 96 wins a piece. Philadelphia has lost three straight at the Bradley Center.
Projected Starters/Injury Report
Injury Report
Last season, then rookie Michael Carter-Williams got out to a hot start, helping him secure his spot as rookie of the year. This year, he’ll sit out the first week of the season with a right shoulder injury. Veteran Jason Richardson is also out with a left knee injury. Rookies Jerami Grant and Joel Embiid are also out for the 76ers.
The Bucks will be without rookies Damien Inglis and Johnny O’Bryant.