Behind the Bucks Pass
Fansided

Milwaukee Bucks Preseason Preview: Oct. 4 vs Indiana Pacers

By Ti Windisch

MILWAUKEE, WI - MARCH 10: Tony Snell #21 of the Milwaukee Bucks dunks in front of Myles Turner #33 of the Indiana Pacers during the first half of a game at the BMO Harris Bradley Center on March 10, 2017 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Stacy Revere/Getty Images)
MILWAUKEE, WI - MARCH 10: Tony Snell #21 of the Milwaukee Bucks dunks in front of Myles Turner #33 of the Indiana Pacers during the first half of a game at the BMO Harris Bradley Center on March 10, 2017 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Stacy Revere/Getty Images) /
facebooktwitterreddit
Prev
3 of 5
Next
CLEVELAND, OH – APRIL 17: (Photo by Gregory Shamus/Getty Images)
CLEVELAND, OH – APRIL 17: (Photo by Gregory Shamus/Getty Images) /

Major key for Indiana – Protect the paint

Milwaukee got a lot of scoring done inside the arc on Monday night. Even without Giannis relentlessly attacking the rim, the Bucks scored 46 points in the paint in Dallas, and shot better than 57 percent from inside the three-point line.

Especially while Dirk was on the floor, the Bucks were getting any look they wanted inside. Even without him out there, Milwaukee was effective at scoring inside. The Mavs were unable to deter the Bucks much, recording just three blocks and giving up 18 points from mid-range.

The Pacers could really put a damper on Milwaukee’s scoring by forming a wall, in the abridged words of Stan Van Gundy. The Bucks need to get inside to score. It’s part of Bucks DNA — the team will shoot threes, but many of those looks result from the opposition having to leave the arc and worry about what Milwaukee is doing down low.

Luckily for Indiana, the team has a center well-equipped for stopping interior attacks. Myles Turner was surprisingly good for a young player on the defensive end last season, where he held opponents to 8.4 percent worse than they normally shot within six feet of the rim.

Turner’s stout defense paired with smart, veteran defenders on the wings might result in the Pacers being pretty good defensively. Stopping the eager-to-attack Bucks from scoring from inside the arc will be a good test, and one Indiana might be ready for.

Home/Bucks News