Milwaukee Bucks: 5 Key Stats Ahead of Toronto Raptors Series

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Apr 4, 2017; Oklahoma City, OK, USA; Oklahoma City Thunder guard Russell Westbrook (0) drives to the basket between Milwaukee Bucks forward Giannis Antetokounmpo (34) and guard Tony Snell (21) during the third quarter at Chesapeake Energy Arena. Mandatory Credit: Mark D. Smith-USA TODAY Sports /

82

No, that 82 does not refer to the amount of games in the regular season, although that is an important number in deciding playoff matchups. That 82 is actually a measure of inches.

When the Bucks start Malcolm Brogdon, Tony Snell, Khris Middleton, Giannis Antetokounmpo and Thon Maker together, each player in their starting five has a wingspan of 6’10”. That’s 82 inches, for the non-math doers out there.

That length is a fun thing to talk about with Milwaukee’s team, but it’s also pretty damn handy, pun intended. It’s easy for the Bucks to get a hand in the way of a passing lane or to make a player put up a tougher shot than usual because of an extended arm in their face.

Kyle Lowry is 6’0″. Small players can clearly succeed in the NBA–Isaiah Thomas won’t stop telling people that he is–but anybody on the Bucks who ends up guarding him is going to be able to reach far above his head without having to jump.

That makes it difficult to get a shot off, even if Lowry can make himself a bit of space. Lowry is an expert at finding ways to score in traffic, but the Bucks are a unique team defensively because of their all-length lineups.

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