Milwaukee Bucks Game Preview: Dec. 9 vs Utah Jazz
By Adam McGee
Major key for Milwaukee – Lock in defensively
The Bucks got picked apart defensively when these two teams met exactly two weeks ago in Salt Lake City, and if anything, the challenge has only become even more difficult in the time since that game.
Perennial Defensive Player of the Year candidate Rudy Gobert has returned, ensuring that the Jazz have an anchor in the middle on both ends to complement an already productive perimeter crew.
It’s not a surprise to see the Jazz as one of the NBA’s best defensive teams, but their offensive has been humming recently too.
Across their last 10 games, Utah is scoring 114.5 points per 100 possessions (third in the NBA). When combined with the NBA’s best defense in that spell, the Jazz trail only the Houston Rockets in net rating, outscoring opponents by a whopping 15.7 points per 100 possessions in their last 10 contests.
The Bucks allowed the Jazz to knock down a franchise record 18 three-point makes in the last meeting between these teams, and the threat posed by Quin Snyder’s team is even greater now.
Milwaukee will need one of their best defensive efforts of the season if they are to prevail, and that will likely require total focus from every Buck who takes to the floor.