Milwaukee Bucks: 3 things to watch for against the New York Knicks
By Eliot Javers
Tonight, the Milwaukee Bucks will look to keep the good vibes rolling after their 117-89 blowout win over the Pistons on Tuesday.
While the 4-4 Bucks are still looking to stabilize after being rocked by injuries in the early stretch of the season, the visiting 5-3 New York Knicks are looking to get back on track after being handed two straight losses from the Toronto Raptors and Indiana Pacers. This could be a measuring stick game for both parties involved, and it will be must-see television. With all that being said, here are three crucial things to look for in what should be a great early-season matchup tonight between these two teams.
How will the outside shooting look for the Milwaukee Bucks?
The 3-point shooting from the Bucks this year has been volatile, to say the least. This is partly due to three of the Bucks’ best outside shooters – Jrue Holiday, Khris Middleton, and Brook Lopez – being out of the lineup due to injury. Regardless, it hasn’t been pretty. Milwaukee has been shooting a mere 33.2 percent on 3-pointers this year. They did take a step in the right direction against Detroit, though, shooting 17-of-37 on their outside looks Tuesday.
One player to watch is Jordan Nwora, who has struggled mightily this year from outside, shooting just 31 percent on five attempts a game. If he wants to be a consistent part of a healthy rotation, that number has to improve, and Friday would be as good a starting point as any. Another player to watch would be Grayson Allen, who has been very streaky through eight games but has gotten ample opportunities and will continue to as long as Giannis Antetokounmpo is in the lineup.
According to NBA.com/stats, the Knicks’ opponents are shooting 41.5 triples per game this year, the third-most in the entire NBA. That means the looks will be there for the Bucks, but they must knock them down, which is far easier said than done for this team. Still, keep an eye on the 3-point shooting from the Bucks, as they could surely use an encore of Tuesday’s performance against the Pistons.