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Milwaukee Bucks Game Preview: April 4 at Oklahoma City Thunder

By Ti Windisch

Jan 2, 2017; Milwaukee, WI, USA; Oklahoma City Thunder guard Russell Westbrook (0) drives for the basket as Milwaukee Bucks guard Malcolm Brogdon (13) defends during the third quarter at BMO Harris Bradley Center. Mandatory Credit: Jeff Hanisch-USA TODAY Sports
Jan 2, 2017; Milwaukee, WI, USA; Oklahoma City Thunder guard Russell Westbrook (0) drives for the basket as Milwaukee Bucks guard Malcolm Brogdon (13) defends during the third quarter at BMO Harris Bradley Center. Mandatory Credit: Jeff Hanisch-USA TODAY Sports /
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Mar 2, 2017; Portland, OR, USA; Portland Trail Blazers center Jusuf Nurkic (27) grabs a rebound in front of Oklahoma City Thunder center Enes Kanter (11) and center Steven Adams (12) during the second half of the game at Moda Center. The Blazers won 114-109. Mandatory Credit: Steve Dykes-USA TODAY Sports
Mar 2, 2017; Portland, OR, USA; Portland Trail Blazers center Jusuf Nurkic (27) grabs a rebound in front of Oklahoma City Thunder center Enes Kanter (11) and center Steven Adams (12) during the second half of the game at Moda Center. The Blazers won 114-109. Mandatory Credit: Steve Dykes-USA TODAY Sports /

Major Key For Oklahoma City: Dominate The Boards

No NBA team hauls in more rebounds per game than the Oklahoma City Thunder. The Thunder grab over 46 boards per game, and those extra touches are the biggest strength Oklahoma City has besides their dynamic point guard.

Unfortunately for the Bucks, Oklahoma City’s strength lines up with one of Milwaukee’s biggest weaknesses. The Bucks are second-to-last among NBA teams in rebounds per game. The team pulls in nearly six less rebounds per game than the Thunder do.

Oklahoma City has some of the more physical big men in the league ready to own the glass. Steven Adams, Taj Gibson and Enes Kanter are all unafraid to bang down low, and they’re all both smart and tough.

Westbrook himself does a lot of rebounding for the Thunder as well, because those triple-doubles are important! It wouldn’t be surprising to see Spencer Hawes get some minutes tonight for the Bucks in an attempt to hang with the Thunder down low. If the Thunder get enough extra possessions it won’t matter how inefficient Westbrook is from the field on Tuesday.

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