5. The Bucks will jet off to Paris after Monday’s game with the Bulls. Are you excited about the Bucks’ overseas clash with the Hornets, and do you think it could have any impact on Milwaukee’s play?
DL: The international exposure can only mean positive things, not only for the league, but for the team. That makes this trip exciting for them, even if the match-up itself isn’t that intriguing.
The long travel absolutely could affect the game. I wouldn’t be surprised if both teams really struggle to put together a well-played affair given that fact.
RD: It will be very interesting to watch an NBA basketball game at 2pm but at the same time I am excited to see how well the Bucks can perform after the long flight and busy travel schedule. I don’t see the travel getting in the way and I expect Budenholzer to manage his players in a way that is best for the health and longevity of his team.
I also think it is great for the Bucks to get to play outside of the country getting the attention of the world, while being led by a player from Greece. Luckily for the Bucks, the Hornets are having an off year but with the play of potential MIP Devonte’ Graham, Malik Monk, and French native Nicolas Batum, the Bucks can’t simply look past this game.
JC: The Bucks playing in Paris is an incredible opportunity for the franchise, and I am sure the Bucks know this going into the game. They have a chance to increase their European influence and fanbase which is a fairly big deal all things considered. I am expecting this game to be sloppy in the beginning to kick off some rust and the jet lag, but I trust Coach Budenholzer to end that quickly. The Hornets also know that this is a great potential opportunity for them as well, so expect a little fight from Charlotte. At the end of the contest, I expect the Bucks will win this game convincingly.
The idea of having one game in seven days could be a very beneficial physical and mental rest for the players. I hope the Bucks staff and players enjoy themselves in Paris as they have more than earned the opportunity to do so. Having the All-Star break looming shortly behind the Paris game also paves the way for the players to come into the final stretch very well rested. It appears having so many back-to-backs early in the season have finally paid off.
BO: To be honest, I’m selfishly not very excited for the Bucks to make this trip. I would much rather the Bucks stay in the US than to deal with the travel for a trip overseas. All selfishness aside though, it’s really cool to have the Bucks play for fans in a different country. People who never get to see NBA basketball live will get to see one of the league’s best teams in action. If the Bucks and Giannis gain more fans out of this trip, then it’s even better.
As for the game itself, I don’t think the trip will have much of an effect. The Bucks and Hornets both have to deal with the same amount of travel, so with that being said, the Bucks should be able to handle their business in this one.
JT: Not that this Bucks season needs a jolt of excitement or anything, but the fact that the team is participating in the spectacle that is the NBA’s first regular season game in Paris is a nice wrinkle at this time of the year. With more exposure to the Bucks worldwide brings another way for the organization to bring on new or neutral fans as they lay witness to the extraordinary attraction that is Giannis.
With that said, how the trip will affect the Bucks before and after is one thread to watch, especially as the Bucks will eventually be back in the pattern of playing every other day upon returning back stateside until the All-Star break.
Hopefully, the Bucks’ play in Paris will live up to the hype of the occasion.
AM: As a regular attendee of these NBA Europe games, I can speak to this being a bigger deal for the players than most will likely realize at this point. Travel is often discussed as a concern in the build-up to these games, but once on the ground, and after the fact, the tone from those within the organization tends to change.
This is a phenomenal bonding opportunity for a team that already has great chemistry, and with the schedule stretching out this is an opportunity to really get an extra bout of rest not long before the All-Star break. The players will get to see some sights, go for dinners, and participate in a couple of NBA Care events in a span of time when some teams back home may be facing the prospect of playing three games and jumping from plane to plane, and city to city.
The games overseas usually aren’t that great, not so much because of the travel (the flight to London, or Paris in this case, is far from excessive), or jet lag (seven-hour time difference is not that bad given they have time to acclimate), but because the whole event and atmosphere can be very different. With no true home fans, the buildings can often be quiet, and there’ll simply be a lot of fans who likely don’t know how to act at an NBA game as they’re getting their first live taste of it. In person, it’s always felt like timeouts are a little longer due to various on-court festivities too, so flow can be an issue.
NBA players love routine, and this certainly will take them out of their usual rhythms. That may not lead to a vintage Bucks performance on the night, but it could lead to the kind of trip that allows batteries to be recharged and further forges bonds that will be all the more important come April, May, and June.
We’ll have more roundtables in the not too distant future, and we’ll continue to have all of the Bucks news and analysis you could ask for on site every single day too.