Milwaukee Bucks: 3 keys to victory when hosting Utah Jazz

Second key – Giannis Antetokounmpo gets the better of Rudy Gobert

There have been thrilling battles between Bucks superstar Giannis Antetokounmpo and Utah Jazz All-Star center Rudy Gobert and Friday night will be the latest chapter.

With Antetokounmpo as one of the most prolific paint scorers in the league and Gobert standing as one of the biggest rim protectors, we’ll know the answer of for when an unstoppable force meets an immovable object. Antetokounmpo has certainly had his moments and scoring outbursts when matched up against the ‘The Stifle Tower,’ that is when Gobert has been healthy over their handful of meetings against one another.

And while Gobert is certainly a vaunted paint protector in his own right, his presence alone hasn’t helped the Jazz blocking off the paint to their opponents. Through their first eight games of the season, the Jazz have allowed 49.8 opponent paint points per game, which ranks them 22nd in the league.

As important as having a rim protector that can ward off the basket to Antetokounmpo is having a versatile wing or forward be able to slow him down. From that lens, Utah will have to rely on their team defending and building up a sound wall to prevent Antetokounmpo from getting where he’s best at going over his career.

With Antetokounmpo the primary source of the Bucks’ interior scoring, it will be fascinating how this next round between the last two Defensive Player of the Years will go Friday night.