Milwaukee Bucks Game Preview: March 5 at Indiana Pacers
By Adam McGee
Major key for Indiana – Keep Giannis quiet
It’s not all that difficult to track the big difference between the Pacers’ last two wins against the Bucks and Milwaukee’s victory over Indiana that opened up the season series.
In the Bucks’ last two losses to Nate McMillan‘s team, Giannis Antetokounmpo has combined for just 41 points on 9-of-26 from the field, while in Milwaukee’s win alone, Antetokounmpo scored 31 points on an efficient 12-of-18 from the field.
This goes for every team who faces the Bucks on any given night throughout the year, but forcing Antetokounmpo into a below average night will give the Pacers their best chance to win. It just so happens, that unlike many of the Bucks’ opponents, Indiana has managed to do that on two occasions.
Between the forward positions, and even at center, the Pacers have a mix of long, athletic and mobile defenders they can throw at Giannis, who seem to be better equipped than most around the league to deal with him.
Stopping an off-form Antetokounmpo is one thing, but how Indiana copes with a player high on confidence following an excellent display the night before will almost certainly decide this game.