5 toughest remaining games of the season for the Milwaukee Bucks
By Max Griffith
![MILWAUKEE, WISCONSIN - FEBRUARY 28: Giannis Antetokounmpo #34 of the Milwaukee Bucks makes a hand gesture as he walks down court during the first half of the game against the Charlotte Hornets at Fiserv Forum on February 28, 2022 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by John Fisher/Getty Images) MILWAUKEE, WISCONSIN - FEBRUARY 28: Giannis Antetokounmpo #34 of the Milwaukee Bucks makes a hand gesture as he walks down court during the first half of the game against the Charlotte Hornets at Fiserv Forum on February 28, 2022 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by John Fisher/Getty Images)](https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/upload/c_fill,w_720,ar_16:9,f_auto,q_auto,g_auto/shape/cover/sport/6b15f21b95a6e2270ae12cb56acec611d6337b710721e7d6af6e548c4bbf7c29.jpg)
Milwaukee Bucks @ Utah Jazz: 3/14
Coming fresh off their matchup with Golden State, the Bucks will stay on the road and battle the Utah Jazz. These teams have played once this season. Then Jazz came out victorious against the Bucks in their Halloween matchup this past year.
An interesting headline for this game will be the watch for Defensive Player of the Year. Two of the top three candidates for the award in Giannis Antetokounmpo and Rudy Gobert will be able to face off. One similarity these two titans have on defense is their ability to step in as a help defender.
The main focus for Milwaukee in this game will once again be to neutralize the 3-point shooting of Utah. Donovan Mitchell had 28 points on 10-for-18 shooting in the first matchup, so cooling off Micthell could be a challenge for Milwaukee. Jrue Holiday will have his hands full with this matchup. In the last two years, Mitchell has averaged 24.5 points on over 50 percent shooting.
The main focus should be making life tough on Mitchell and forcing him into tough shots, that is all you can do. If Milwaukee can win on the road vs Golden State, and then come to Salt Lake City and knock off the Jazz, that would help tremendously with their seeding.
Milwaukee Bucks @ Philadelphia 76ers: 3/29
Milwaukee caps off their tough month of March with a matchup in the Liberty City. Giannis and the Bucks will get their first taste of the new and “improved” 76ers team. After acquiring James Harden from Brooklyn, the 76ers haven’t lost a game. They played the Timberwolves and followed up with a back-to-back against the Knicks, so let’s not jump the gun.
This game will have big implications on seeding assuming the race for the one seed stays this tight. Milwaukee is 1-1 on the year vs Philly. Their last meeting, they could not stop Joel Embiid. It will be interesting to see if having Giannis off the ball so he can exercise his ability to play help defense will actually be worse for Milwaukee. I feel that if Giannis were to matchup on Embiid, Joel would not see half the success he saw on the offensive end that he saw in the two teams’ last meeting.
Next. 3 candidates to consider for the Milwaukee Bucks’ final roster spot. dark
Be sure to tune in for these matchups.