Milwaukee Bucks Game Preview: Oct. 31 vs Oklahoma City Thunder
By Adam McGee
Major key for Oklahoma City – Shut down the Bucks’ offense
One of the stranger reservations many analysts had about the Thunder following their high profile acquisitions this summer centered around how their defense would function with both Westbrook and Anthony as starters.
What that overlooked is that in George, Andre Roberson and Steven Adams, Oklahoma City’s starting five also boasts three of the league’s very best defenders at their respective positions. Anthony and Westbrook don’t lack focus or determination, and as a result, the Thunder’s defense has looked particularly mean to start the year.
Having played six games, Billy Donovan‘s team are third in the league in defensive rating (96.3 points per 100 possessions), first in steals (11.5 per game), and second in blocks (7.0 per game). They’re also allowing the third lowest field goal percentage (41.9 percent) and the eighth lowest three-point percentage (32.5 percent).
Pair that with an offense that’s just outside the top-10 and it’s safe to say that OKC will be far better than their current .500 record very soon.
The Celtics had the most success of any Bucks opponent to date in guarding Giannis Antetokounmpo — in the way that you can have relative success in that thankless task — when they put Al Horford up against him at the MECCA last Thursday. Adams offers the Thunder a similar option in terms of a mobile big with outstanding defensive instincts, and with his extra height and bulk he could prove an even tougher matchup than Horford was.
Of course, the Thunder could opt for George or Roberson on Antetokounmpo instead, but without the physical, offensive threat of Greg Monroe, they’ll certainly have the freedom to switch Adams over in spells, if they wish.