Milwaukee Bucks: Initial reaction to key schedule dates for 2021-22 season
By Dalton Sell
It seems like just yesterday that the Milwaukee Bucks closed out the 2021 NBA Finals on their home floor to end their 50-year title drought.
In actuality, they have celebrated the title with a parade, drafted two intriguing prospects, brought in multiple fresh faces in free agency, and swung a trade for another rotational piece, improving the quality of their roster heading into the next season. Although the celebration will continue to live on, some anxious fans are already looking ahead to next season, and rightfully so as the Bucks will look to defend their crown.
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With the NBA’s 2021-22 season rapidly approaching, the league released some key dates and matchups for the upcoming season, to which the reigning champions were featured in two key instances.
First and foremost, the Bucks will officially kick off the season at Fiserv Forum versus the Brooklyn Nets, who they are familiar with after last year’s playoffs. Next, they will play a home game on Christmas Day against the Boston Celtics, yet another foe within the Eastern Conference.
Initial reaction to the 2021-22 schedule involving the Milwaukee Bucks taking on the Brooklyn Nets and Boston Celtics in key matchups
The news about the Bucks taking on the Nets in the very first game of the season should not come as much of a surprise. It seemed like the writing was clearly on the wall that these two teams were destined to square off on opening night or on Christmas Day to set the biggest stage possible. After these two juggernauts went back and forth throwing haymakers at one another for seven games in the 2021 Eastern Conference Semifinals, fans justifiably want to see more.
It does not get much better than Giannis Antetokounmpo versus Kevin Durant, with names like Khris Middleton, James Harden, Kyrie Irving, and Jrue Holiday all showing up as well. This matchup has no shortage of stars involved, and tensions should only flare as the Bucks will raise their title banner and receive their championship rings, something that many predicted the Nets would be the ones doing instead. However, they were derailed by injuries against the Bucks, and hopefully, they will be healthy this time around because there are sure to be some fireworks.
The Nets will be looking to make a statement on the road, while the Bucks will be looking to kick off the new season with a win on a night that is set for celebration. These two teams could be gearing up to meet deep in the playoffs once again this coming season, but only time will tell, as much as fans have their fingers crossed. Be sure to catch the action as worlds collide when the reigning champs kick off opening night at 6:30 p.m. CST on TNT.
Next up on the list is Christmas Day, where the Bucks will have the prestigious honor of hosting the Celtics. The matchups between these two franchises are always must-see, as perfectly evidenced by their opening matchup during the 2020-21 regular season. Jayson Tatum’s banked triple in the closing moments served as a hefty gut-punch for the Bucks in a game that went down-to-the-wire and resulted in a 122-121 Milwaukee loss. Including their two postseason meetings over the past several years, it is always must-see television when they square off.
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Hopefully, Middleton, who always seems to turn things up a notch when he plays against the Celtics, can help deliver the Bucks a perfect Christmas gift alongside Antetokounmpo and Holiday. The Bucks and Celtics will square off at 1:30 p.m. CST on December 25th, and you can watch it on ABC.