Milwaukee Bucks Game Preview: Jan. 6 vs New York Knicks

Dec 5, 2015; Milwaukee, WI, USA; New York Knicks forward Carmelo Anthony (7) drives for the basket against Milwaukee Bucks forward Giannis Antetokounmpo (34) in the second quarter at BMO Harris Bradley Center. Mandatory Credit: Benny Sieu-USA TODAY Sports
Dec 5, 2015; Milwaukee, WI, USA; New York Knicks forward Carmelo Anthony (7) drives for the basket against Milwaukee Bucks forward Giannis Antetokounmpo (34) in the second quarter at BMO Harris Bradley Center. Mandatory Credit: Benny Sieu-USA TODAY Sports
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Dec 21, 2016; Cleveland, OH, USA;Cleveland Cavaliers guard Kyrie Irving (2) drives to the basket against Milwaukee Bucks guard Tony Snell (21) during the first quarter at Quicken Loans Arena. Mandatory Credit: Ken Blaze-USA TODAY Sports
Dec 21, 2016; Cleveland, OH, USA;Cleveland Cavaliers guard Kyrie Irving (2) drives to the basket against Milwaukee Bucks guard Tony Snell (21) during the first quarter at Quicken Loans Arena. Mandatory Credit: Ken Blaze-USA TODAY Sports

Major Key For Milwaukee: Guard The Three-Point Line

In the modern NBA this could be the major key for just about any team on any night, but guarding the three-point line was something Milwaukee struggled with in their last game against the Knicks.

The Bucks allowed New York to shoot over 46 percent from the field on Wednesday, and the Knicks made four more threes than Milwaukee did even though both teams shot 28 of them. It’s tough to win games while simultaneously losing the three-point battle.

Of course the Bucks did win the last contest, but it wasn’t exactly a domination–it took a major comeback and then a low-percentage, high-excitement fadeaway from Giannis. Without both of those things happening, the Bucks would not have escaped from New York with that win.

Milwaukee will take wins where they can get them, but that’s not the ideal victory. The Bucks are the better team out of the two involved here, and they can prove that by taking away the easy threes that helped the Knicks build their lead on Wednesday.