Milwaukee Bucks: 3 keys to victory against the Cleveland Cavaliers

Third key to victory against Cavaliers – Milwaukee Bucks blitz Cavs from 3-point range

As we’ve gathered at various times throughout their first 21 games this season, the Bucks have taken a major leap in their 3-point shooting.

While they rank fourth in the league in 3-point makes this season, the Bucks are averaging two more made triples than they did just a season ago. That’s coupled with taking a major step forward in efficiency by collectively hitting 40 percent of their threes this season after hitting 35.5 percent of such shots just a season ago.

It shouldn’t come as a shock that this Cavaliers team finds itself on the opposite end of the league when it comes to their 3-point shooting. They’ve made the second-fewest total threes (203) this season, attempting the second-fewest threes (575). All of this comes after they went 4-for-10 in their loss to the Clippers for the entire game.

While the Cavs’ 3-point percentage (35.7 percent) is much more modest, it’s clear they don’t take a modern approach, at least to the degree the Bucks do. Therefore, blitzing the Cavs from behind the arc will be the final key to success for the Bucks in this coming double-header. When the Bucks have outshot their opponents from three, they’ve gone 10-1 this season. When they haven’t, they’re just 3-7.

If the gap in 3-point shooting in these games comes anywhere close to resembling what the teams have done so far, the Bucks will be able to outscore the Cavs easily.

Even with the major improvements they’ve sported, the Bucks have shown to go cold in rare games this season. More importantly, though, the Cavaliers being a more reluctant shooting team from distance might be music to the Bucks’ ears, given the recent onslaughts we’ve seen in that regard.

You can catch the first of the Bucks’ two meetings with the Cleveland Cavaliers this weekend when Friday night’s game tips off at 6 p.m central time and it will be broadcasted on Fox Sports Wisconsin.