Miami Heat vs Milwaukee Bucks
When: 8:00 PM  ET, Friday, January 13, 2017
Where: BMO Harris Bradley Center, Milwaukee, Wisconsin

TV: 8 p.m. ET, FSN Sun (Miami), FSN Wisconsin (Milwaukee)
PREDICTION: Bucks 109, Heat 98

MILWAUKEE — Giannis Antetokounmpo is expected to be back in the Milwaukee Bucks’ starting lineup Friday when they host the Miami Heat at the Bradley Center.

Antetokounmpo, Milwaukee’s leader in every major offensive statistical category, sat out the Bucks’ game Sunday against the Wizards and played just nine minutes Wednesday against the Spurs because of an illness.

But Bucks head coach Jason Kidd said that Antetokounmpo was back to full strength and went through practice Thursday with no issues.

With Antetokounmpo out, the Bucks got a full dose of reserve Michael Beasley’s best. The nine-year veteran scored 18 points on 6-of-9 shooting in the loss to Washington, then followed that up with a season-high 28 against San Antonio, to go along with five rebounds, four assists, three blocks and a pair of steals.

And more important for the Bucks, he was a stabilizing presence on the floor down the stretch, as Milwaukee held on for a 109-107 victory.

“It says that I’ve been here before,” Beasley said. “I work on those shots every day, before and after practice. I come here (to the Cousins Center) at night.”

“They’ve got to understand their pace and can’t be in a rush,” Kidd said. “And it’s not just from Beasley but from other closers in this league.

“It’s understanding pace and rhythm is a big thing, and not rushing. Those are the things young players struggle with early.”

Milwaukee struggled in its last meeting with the Heat, scoring just 73 points on 32 percent shooting back on November 18. The Bucks managed just 25 second-half points and only 11 in the final quarter.

Dion Waiters scored 23 points in that game to lead Miami while Hassan Whiteside added 12 points with 17 rebounds.

The game wraps up a six-game road trip for Miami, which has dropped three in a row and nine of its last 10.

The Heat led Golden State at halftime Wednesday and got within three in the final minutes before falling 107-95 to the defending Western Conference champions.

“We’re not looking for moral victories,” Miami coach Erik Spoelstra said. “We’re looking to get better and improve every single day. The tough thing on this road trip is you have to step back and really evaluate, which I’m not able to do right now. I’m still emotional about the game. But you can see our basketball team is getting better.”

The Heat had a rough arrival in Milwaukee. Freezing rain fell on the area Wednesday night, leaving the runway at Mitchell International Airport slick. Miami’s charter flight skidded while taxiing to the terminal, requiring an emergency response and a tow for the plane.

Nobody was injured in the incident.

“Could have been worse. Thank God it wasn’t,” Miami guard Wayne Ellington Tweeted after the incident.

The Bucks have won six of their last eight meetings with the Heat, including three of the last four meetings at the Bradley Center.

The post Miami vs Milwaukee Odds & Prediction appeared first on IdealCapper.

New York Knicks vs. Milwaukee Bucks
When: 8:00 PM ET, Friday, January 6, 2017
Where: BMO Harris Bradley Center, Milwaukee, Wisconsin

TV: 8 p.m. ET, ESPN, MSG (New York)
PREDICTION: Bucks 113, Knicks 108

MILWAUKEE — The New York Knicks became the latest victim of Giannis Antetokounmpo’s rise to NBA stardom Wednesday night, when the 22-year-old sank a step-back jumper at the buzzer to give the Milwaukee Bucks a 105-104 victory at Madison Square Garden.

Friday night, they’ll try to stop Antetokounmpo and the Bucks — as well as snap a season-long six-game winning streak — when the teams meet in the back end of a home-and-home set at the Bradley Center.

Antetokounmpo has played himself into consideration for a starting role at the NBA All-Star game next month in New Orleans. With 500,663 votes, he’s currently second among Eastern Conference front court players behind Cleveland’s LeBron James and has a healthy lead over James’ teammate, Kevin Love, who’s in third place.

“He should be there, no question about it,” center Greg Monroe told the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel. “He’s definitely playing at an all-star level. It’s just making sure we’re doing the things we need to do as a team so there’s a spot for him in the All-Star Game.

“He’s been working on his game nonstop. You can see it; the stuff he does night in and night out, the energy he brings and the plays he makes for himself and others. It’s just a testament to how hard he’s been working.”

Antetokounmpo isn’t Milwaukee’s only All-Star candidate, either. Forward Jabari Parker is starting to look like the kind of game-changing playmaker the Bucks envisioned when he was taken second overall in the 2014 draft.

“I could care less about the voting,” Bucks coach Jason Kidd said. “As long as we have players representing the Milwaukee Bucks, that’s all I care about. Right now you look at what Giannis and Jabari are doing, start or not start, hopefully, we can get both of those guys there.

“You’ve got to win. You look at their numbers, but it comes down to winning. If the team is winning, you have a better chance of having multiple guys go.”

As those two have grown, so have the Bucks, who bring a three-game winning streak and an 18-16 record into their rematch Friday with the Knicks, who come in looking to get back on track and salvage what had been an encouraging season.

The Knicks were two games above .500 when they took the court against the Celtics on Christmas Day but it’s gone all downhill from there.

“They’re in the locker room tired right now,” coach Jeff Hornacek, whose team has allowed at least 100 points in each of the six losses during the streak. “That’s all you can ask. That’s making strides. If we continue to do that, we’re going to win games.”

Making matters worse is the uncertain status of Kristaps Porzingis, who has missed New York’s last three games with a sore Achilles.

Aside from his 20.1 points and 7.9 rebounds per game, the Knicks lose a strong defensive presence in the front court without him; a presence that would go a long way in neutralizing the Antetokounmpo/Parker tandem down low.

“This club’s going through adversity right now. There’s no question about it,” Joakim Noah said. “Losing sucks. But we just got to bounce back.”

New York has won or tied each of the last five season series with the Bucks, including a 2-2 mark against Milwaukee a year ago.

The post New York vs. Milwaukee Odds & Prediction appeared first on IdealCapper.

Milwaukee Bucks vs. New York Knicks
When: 7:30 PM ET, Wednesday, January 4, 2017
Where: Madison Square Garden, New York, New York

TV: 7:30 p.m. ET, FSN Wisconsin (Milwaukee), MSG (New York)
PREDICTION: Bucks 109, Knicks 99

Oddsmakers currently have the Bucks listed as 2-point favorites versus the Knicks, while the game’s total has not yet been posted.

NEW YORK — The defensively challenged New York Knicks will face a tough test when the Milwaukee Bucks pay a visit to Madison Square Garden on Wednesday.

The Knicks (16-18) have lost five straight in which they have allowed over 100 points in each game. They have the fifth-worst defensive rating in the league. Opponents are shooting 45 percent against New York, including .354 percent from beyond the arc.

The Knicks have lost 10 games by 11 points or more.

Adding to their worries, New York could be without second-year forward Kristaps Porzingis, whose status is uncertain due to an Achilles injury that has kept him out of the past two games.

In the Knicks’ 115-103 loss at home to Orlando on Monday, the Magic tied their season high with 15 made 3-pointers. Three players scored at least 20 points and Nikola Vucevic and Elfrid Payton came off the bench to record their 17th and third double-doubles, respectively, this season. Vucevic scored 14 points and grabbed 13 rebounds and Payton contributed 13 points and a career high-tying 14 assists.

“We have to find someone to play defense,” Knicks coach Jeff Hornacek said. “We have to have better pride. When you give a team three or four straight 3-pointers right off the start, you give them hope.

“We didn’t have enough fight to let them (Orlando) even take the shots. We might be good enough defensively. We might have to figure out ways to trap. Some of it is closeouts. Our guys were scrambling and we didn’t get out to them.”

The Bucks (17-16) feature the league’s top offense when it comes to points in the paint and a rising star in 23-year-old shooting guard Giannis Antetokounmpo.

Antetokounmpo recorded his seventh straight game with 20-plus points, five-plus rebounds and five-plus assists in Milwaukee’s 98-94 win over Oklahoma City on Monday. He finished the game with 26 points, 10 rebounds and five assists.

His current streak is now the second-longest in franchise history (Kareen Abdul-Jabbar, 13 from Nov. 11-Dec. 6, 1972). Antetokounmpo also extended his career-best streak of games with 20-plus points to 12 and tallied his 15th double-double.

“You look at what he does on a consistent basis, that’s what stars are measured on,” Bucks coach Jason Kidd said. “Giannis isn’t just about scoring the ball. He’s able to make plays — he makes winning plays — and that’s what stars do in this league. So for what he’s done here, from the beginning of the season, you can see his confidence is growing.”

Like his team, New York’s leading scorer, Carmelo Anthony, is also in a slump. In the five-game losing streak, Anthony is shooting just .361 percent from the floor. He has contributed only two double-doubles this season, compared to 22 last season.

“We have to get back to the gym, back to the basics and try to find some practice time,” Anthony said as a possible solution to the team’s defensive struggles. “We have to go back to the drawing board and get some reps up.”

The two squads meet again on Friday in Milwaukee.

The post Milwaukee vs. New York Odds & Prediction appeared first on IdealCapper.

Milwaukee Bucks vs. Toronto Raptors
When: 7:30 PM ET, Monday, December 12, 2016
Where: Air Canada Centre, Toronto, Ontario

TV: 7:30 p.m. ET, FSN Wisconsin (Milwaukee), Sportsnet One (Toronto)
PREDICTION: Raptors 108, Bucks 105

Oddsmakers currently have the Raptors listed as 8½-point favorites versus the Bucks, while the game’s total is sitting at 212.

TORONTO — The Milwaukee Bucks have been playing better in the first half than the second half recently.

The Toronto Raptors have been better in the second half.

The teams will meet Monday night at the Air Canada Centre, where the Raptors have been showing that it’s not so much how you start but how you finish.

The Raptors, who defeated the Boston Celtics 101-94 Friday, have won eight of their past nine games. Their only loss in their recent surge was to the NBA champion Cleveland Cavaliers.

While the Raptors were completing wins in back-to-back games Friday after overcoming a slow start Thursday to defeat the Minnesota Timberwolves, the Bucks lost both ends of their back-to-back set to the Atlanta Hawks on Friday and the Washington Wizards on Saturday.

The Bucks (11-11) blew a 20-point halftime lead Friday to lose to the Hawks 114-110, then were tied at the half before losing 110-105 in Washington on Saturday.

“You can’t turn the ball over late,” Bucks coach Jason Kidd said. “I think we had 20 turnovers (Saturday night) and that led to a lot of points (24). We shot a lot of 3s in that five-minute span. Our strength is the paint. We’ve got to get back to the paint and work inside-out.”

Giannis Antetokounmpo is a key to the any success the Bucks have. He led them with 28 points (11-for-18 from the field), 13 rebounds and seven assists Saturday.

He also turned the ball over seven times in 41 minutes.

“Giannis is an all-star,” Wizards coach Scott Brooks said. “I wasn’t in the league last year but he has improved a lot. He’s a handful. He has the longest stride. His jump shot has improved and his passing and rebounding. … We tried to make it crowded for him and he did turn the ball over a few times.”

The Raptors (16-7) trailed at halftime on Friday before using a third-quarter surge to prevail 101-94 over the Celtics, who are being touted as a threat to the Raptors in the Eastern Conference.

DeMarre Carroll was rested in Saturday to protect his right knee and Norman Powell took his spot and again excelled when given the chance, scoring 20 points. Carroll is expected to start Monday against the Bucks.

“It was a very good team win for us,” said Raptors point guard Kyle Lowry, who scored 34 points. “Everyone stepped up (Friday night). Norm (Powell), I know some games he plays and some he doesn’t, but 20 points. Pat (Patterson) didn’t shoot the ball well but came up with some big rebounds. We had a great team win tonight and against a team that plays extremely hard. They are missing their All-Star guard (Isaiah Thomas), but they played extremely hard and they played well and together.”

The Raptors, who trailed by one point entering the fourth quarter on Thursday before defeating Minnesota 124-110, played more the way Dwane Casey wants to see them play Friday against the Celtics.

“I think it was just the attention to detail,” Casey said. “Guys were into the ball in pick and rolls, (Thursday night) we weren’t and the proof is in the pudding. This is a talented offensive team and if we can do that against these guys we have to do that for the majority of the rest of our schedule.”

The post Milwaukee vs. Toronto Odds & Prediction appeared first on IdealCapper.

San Antonio Spurs vs Milwaukee Bucks
When: 8:00 PM ET, Monday, December 5, 2016
Where: BMO Harris Bradley Center, Milwaukee, Wisconsin

TV: 8 p.m. ET, FSN Southwest (San Antonio), FSN Wisconsin (Milwaukee)
PREDICTION: Spurs 110, Bucks 102

“It’s taking us a while to get into the rhythm, into the aggressiveness that we need to get leads,” San Antonio guard Manu Ginobili told reporters. “Yeah, we’re not playing well, but the good thing is that meanwhile we’re getting wins and we’re maintaining a good record.” The Bucks will test that road streak and try to keep their own run of strong play going after winning four in a row – a surge that included a 17-point victory over Eastern Conference-leading Cleveland. Milwaukee finished off a sweep of a home-and-home set with struggling Brooklyn on Saturday with a 112-103 triumph and is averaging 111.3 points during the streak. Giannis Antetokounmpo and Jabari Parker lead the Bucks, averaging 41 points between them.

ABOUT THE SPURS (16-4): Leonard is again putting up solid numbers while averaging 24.3 points, six rebounds and three assists, but is shooting just 45.3 percent from the field – well below his career average (49.5). LaMarcus Aldridge is also contributing 17.6 points and 6.7 rebounds per game and newcomer Pau Gasol posted 19 points and 10 rebounds against Washington for his second double-double since joining the Spurs this season. Point guard Tony Parker (9.7 points, 4.3 assists) missed the last game with a bruised left quad and is questionable.

ABOUT THE BUCKS (10-8): Antetokounmpo filled the scoresheet with 16 points, 10 boards, six assists and five blocks in Saturday victory – continuing to round out his all-around game. “It just shows that he doesn’t need to score 20 points to have an impact on the game,” Milwaukee coach Jason Kidd told reporters of Antetokounmpo, who is scoring 22.4 per game. Parker averages 18.6 points as the only other player in double figures, but center John Henson is raising his level of play in the last four games, scoring 20 twice during that span.

BUZZER BEATERS

1. The Spurs have won the last eight meetings and beat the Bucks by 25 both games in 2015-16.

2. Milwaukee G Matthew Dellavedova scored a season-high 18 points while dishing out six assists in Saturday’s victory.

3. San Antonio leads the league in free-throw percentage (82.0) and the Bucks are limiting opponents to an NBA-best 42.7 percent from the field entering Sunday.

The post San Antonio Spurs vs Milwaukee Bucks Odds & Prediction appeared first on IdealCapper.

BROOKLYN vs MILWAUKEE
When: 5:00 PM ET, Saturday, December 3, 2016
Where: BMO Harris Bradley Center, Milwaukee, Wisconsin

TV: 5 p.m. ET, YES (Brooklyn), FSN Wisconsin (Milwaukee)
PREDICTION: Bucks 112, Nets 108

MILWAUKEE — Less than 48 hours after falling just short of a triple-double in a Milwaukee Bucks’ victory at Brooklyn, Giannis Antetokounmpo will get another crack at Brooklyn when the Bucks play the back end of a home-and-home series Saturday afternoon at the Bradley Center.

Antetokounmpo scored 23 points, grabbed eight rebounds and dished out eight assists in 30 minutes of work. Milwaukee was in such control of the contest — ultimately, a 19-point victory — that he didn’t take the floor in the third quarter.

“It’s a long season,” Antetokounmpo said. “It doesn’t matter for me. The only thing that matters is to get the win. We play them (the Nets) again in two days so they made a great decision sitting me in the fourth quarter because we’ve got to get the win again in two days. It’s a must-win game again.”

It’s no coincidence that as Antetokounmpo gets hot, so have the Bucks. Milwaukee has won three in a row and four of its last five games.

The Bucks are averaging 111.0 points, 48.0 rebounds, 24.7 assists, 9.7 steals and 7.3 blocks per game over that stretch and shooting 48.8 percent from the field and knocking down an average of 10 3-pointers per contest.

“I think we got the ball moving, but it all starts with our defense,” Bucks coach Jason Kidd said.

The Bucks held Brooklyn to 38.2 percent shooting and a 12-for-40 showing from behind the arc.

“We couldn’t pierce their defense,” Nets coach Kenny Atkinson said. “They kept us in front and they would switch it and keep you there and kept us on the perimeter. I would like to see how many rim attempts we got, but I don’t think we converted at a high rate. So credit to their defense, they are a good defensive team and they were tough to score on tonight.”

Brooklyn also committed 17 turnovers in the loss to Milwaukee, continuing a season-long problem. The Nets are third in the league in turnovers this season, averaging 16.5 per game.

“There is not one player where we are saying, ‘Hey, you are turning it over all the time’,” Atkinson said. “It’s equal distribution, so our offense has to get better. Our execution has to get better.”

Milwaukee has won 13 of the last 17 meetings, dating back to Jan. 9, 2013, and the first two meetings of this season’s series.

Isaiah Whiteside wants to see that streak come to an end Saturday afternoon.

“I think they just wanted it more than us,” said Whiteside, who scored 14 points with six rebounds and four assists against the Bucks Thursday. “We just have to come out with more of a sense of urgency on defense and get stops instead of leaving easy buckets, and I think they basically did what we were supposed to do.

“We need go to their place and we really just play with a chip on our shoulder and come out with a win.”

The post Brooklyn vs. Milwaukee Odds & Prediction appeared first on IdealCapper.

Milwaukee Bucks vs. Atlanta Hawks
When: 7:30 PM ET, Wednesday, November 16, 2016
Where: Philips Arena, Atlanta, Georgia
TV: 7:30 p.m. ET, FSN Wisconsin (Milwaukee), FSN Southeast (Atlanta)
PREDICTION: Hawks 106, Bucks 99

Odds aren’t yet posted for this game, so check back later for the opening line and total.

ATLANTA — The Hawks are the home team against Milwaukee on Wednesday, but it is the Bucks who will be playing after a good night’s sleep in Atlanta.

The Bucks have been idle since a victory over the New Orleans Pelicans in Milwaukee on Saturday, while the Hawks are playing the second half of a back-to-back after stretching their winning streak to five games with a 93-90 victory Tuesday in Miami.

The Hawks (8-2) are 2-0 in the finale of consecutive games this season, following up a loss at Washington with a home victory over Houston and starting their winning streak with victories at Cleveland and at home against Chicago.

Atlanta, though, could be without Dwight Howard against the Bucks (5-4).

The center sustained a left quad contusion late in the third quarter Tuesday against the Heat and didn’t return.

After the victory, Hawks coach Mike Budenholzer didn’t rule out Howard being able to play against the Bucks. That may be a reach, however.

Atlanta Stats:
Team record: 8-2 SU,7-3 ATS
Current Streak: won 5 straight games.
Atlanta is 4-1 ATS in its last 5 games
Atlanta is 5-0 SU in its last 5 games
Atlanta is 6-1 ATS in its last 7 games at home

“Dwight took a knee to his knee area or just above his knee,” Budenholzer said. “There’s some swelling, and we’ll just have to be aggressive in treating him and hopefully getting him ready to play (Wednesday). We’ll just see how the next 20 to 24 hours go.”

Howard was to get treatment on the trip back to Atlanta and will have more Wednesday before a decision is made on his status. He told the Atlanta Journal-Constitution that the injury was “super painful.”

One of the keys to the Hawks’ good start this season has been their bench, and Mike Muscala likely would get the start if Howard can’t go against the Bucks.

Muscala scored 14 points in 22 minutes against the Heat, going 6 of 7 from the floor. He also had five rebounds, four assists and a steal.

Howard would be a major loss if he can’t play, though, especially on defense. The Hawks struggled mightily trying to contain Heat center Hassan Whiteside after the 6-foot-11 Howard left, with Paul Millsap finally having to take the role.

Howard, who has been rejuvenated after signing with his hometown Hawks, had 11 points and 11 rebounds in 24 minutes for his eighth double-double. He came into the Heat game averaging 15.2 points and 12.4 rebounds.

Bucks coach Jason Kidd wouldn’t mind at all not having to face Howard.

“He’s playing like he did earlier in his career,” the coach told the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel. “He’s dominating. They’re looking for him and they’re finding him. He causes a big problem. You put shooters around him, and he causes an even bigger problem.”

The Bucks won the first two of their three games against the Hawks last season, with both victories requiring overtime.

Jabari Parker had 28 points and 13 rebounds in a 117-109 double-OT win in Atlanta after Giannis Antetokounmpo recorded 28 points and 16 rebounds to lead a 108-101 victory at Milwaukee.

Antetokounmpo, a 6-foot-11 native of Greece, is off to a breakout start as a 21-year-old in his fourth NBA season. He leads the Bucks in scoring (21.3), rebounds (8.3), blocks (2.1) and steals (2.0) while ranking second in assists (5.3).

In Milwaukee’s 106-96 victory over Memphis on Saturday, Antetokounmpo bounced back from a couple of so-so games with 27 points, six rebounds, five assists, four steals and four blocks in 30 minutes.

Milwaukee Stats:
Team record: 5-4 SU,4-5 ATS
Milwaukee is 4-2 ATS in its last 6 games
Milwaukee is 4-11 ATS in its last 15 games
Milwaukee is 4-2 SU in its last 6 games

“It felt good,” Antetokounmpo said after the victory. “My teammates wanted me to get back in rhythm, and I did whatever it took to get back in rhythm. They told me from day one they need me.”

The Hawks placed six players in double figures against the Heat and have had at least five reach that level in every game except one.

“I just feel like we have a lot of guys who are playing well right now, a lot of guys playing with a lot of confidence,” Budenholzer said.

The post Milwaukee vs. Atlanta Odds & Prediction appeared first on IdealCapper.

Chicago At Milwaukee
When: 5:30 PM ET, Saturday, April 25, 2015
Where: BMO Harris Bradley Center, Milwaukee, Wisconsin
TV: 5:30 p.m. ET, TNT, CSN Chicago, FSN Wisconsin (Milwaukee)
PREDICTION: Bucks 102, Bulls 94
Join BetOnline and get up to $1,000 BONUS

Oddsmakers currently have the Bulls listed as 4-point favorites versus the Bucks, while the game’s total is sitting at 188½.

Chicago was a 113-106 winner in its last match on the road against the Bucks. They failed to cover the -8.5-point spread as favorites, while the total score of 219 sent OVER bettors to the payout window.

The strong play of Rose has been the story of the series as he scored his 34 points in a whopping 48 minutes in Game 3 to provide definitive proof that his knee woes are not an issue. Rose is averaging 24 points and eight assists and Butler has also stood out in each game by averaging 26.7 points in the series. “We have a very strong backcourt right now,” Noah told reporters. “Both (Jimmy) and Derrick, it’s very good and I’m happy to have them as teammates. They’re competing hard and it’s making us that much better.”

Team record: 53-32 SU,41-44 ATS
Current Streak: won 7 straight games.
Chicago is 4-1 ATS in its last 5 games
Chicago is 5-0 SU in its last 5 games
Chicago is 5-10 ATS in its last 15 games on the road
The total has gone OVER in 8 of Chicago’s last 12 games on the road

Small forward Giannis Antetokounmpo shot just 25 percent from the field over the first two games before exploding for 25 points and 12 rebounds in Game 3. The 20-year-old nicknamed the “Greek Freak” played 51 minutes in the contest and was much more comfortable with the playoff stage than he was in the first two games of the series. “I was trying to be aggressive and try to make plays for my teammates,” Antetokounmpo told reporters. “I talked with my teammates and they told me not to think, don’t take second-guesses on the court because whenever you think on the court, you’re dead.”

Team record: 41-44 SU,46-37-2 ATS
Current Streak: lost 4 straight games.
Milwaukee is 1-4 SU in its last 5 games
The total has gone OVER in 4 of Milwaukee’s last 5 games
Milwaukee is 4-2 ATS in its last 6 games at home
Milwaukee is 1-4 SU in its last 5 games at home

The post Chicago vs. Milwaukee Preview appeared first on IdealCapper.

Milwaukee At Chicago
When: 7:00 PM ET, Saturday, April 18, 2015
Where: United Center, Chicago, Illinois
TV: 7 p.m. ET, ESPN, FSN Wisconsin (Milwaukee), CSN Chicago
PREDICTION: Bulls 98, Bucks 92
Join BetOnline and get up to $1,000 BONUS

Oddsmakers currently have the Bulls listed as 7-point favorites versus the Bucks, while the game’s total is sitting at 192.

Last time out for Chicago, they were a 91-85 winner as they battled the Hawks at home. The Bulls covered in the match as a -5-point favorite, while 176 combined points moved the game UNDER for totals bettors.

Gasol terrorized the Bucks with a career-best 46 points to go with 18 rebounds on Jan. 18, one of his career-best 54 double-doubles. He is gearing up for a big postseason and feels the team is primed to make a deep run. “I came here to have an opportunity to win a title and I hope we can accomplish that,” Gasol told reporters. “You don’t take anything for granted and you never know what will be the next year so you have to embrace and enjoy the point you find yourself in.”

Team record: 50-32 SU,39-43 ATS
Current Streak: won 4 straight games.
Chicago is 4-2 ATS in its last 6 games
Chicago is 4-1 SU in its last 5 games
Chicago is 5-2 ATS in its last 7 games at home
Chicago is 5-0 SU in its last 5 games at home

Last time out for Milwaukee, they were a 105-100 loser as they battled the Celtics at home. The Bucks failed to cover in the match as a -5.5-point favorite, while 205 combined points moved the game OVER for totals bettors.

Milwaukee delivered a huge turnaround under new coach Jason Kidd after being a dreadful 15-67 one season ago. The injury to Parker was devastating but the Bucks regrouped and players such as forward Giannis Antetokounmpo and Middleton had solid campaigns. “We feel like we’ve had a great season so far and we’ve had a few ups and downs, but I think for the most part we’ve had a pretty good season,” Middleton told reporters. “Everybody’s come together and is buying into what we want to do here, so that has helped the process.”

Team record: 41-41 SU,45-35-2 ATS
The total has gone OVER in 4 of Milwaukee’s last 5 games
Milwaukee is 3-11 SU in its last 14 games on the road
The total has gone OVER in 4 of Milwaukee’s last 5 games on the road
Milwaukee is 1-5 ATS in its last 6 games when playing Chicago

The post Milwaukee vs. Chicago Preview appeared first on IdealCapper.

“There’s been a lot of second pick busts,” Parker said Saturday morning, at the grand opening of the redesigned Jordan space inside Nike Chicago. “I’m just trying not to be that bust. Everyday that I step on the court, I just remind myself that I have a long ways to go. If I want to be one of those guys in the first tier of the NBA, like a LeBron, like a Kobe, like a [Blake Griffin], then I have to have that mentality starting off from the ground, and work my way up.”

Parker knows his history.

There is an unusually high amount of players who could rightfully be labeled as being busts that were taken second overall. The list is long, and includes names like Darko Milicic, Michael Beasley, and perhaps most famously Sam Bowie, who the Blazers took second in the 1984 draft, with Michael Jordan’s name still on the board.

In recent years, the players picked second don’t appear like they’ll amount to much, either, though there is still time. Victor Oladipo, last year’s number two pick, seems just fine. But Michael Kidd-Gilchrist, Derrick Williams, Evan Turner and Hasheem Thabeet all appear to be miles away from living up to that level of expectation.

Parker is entering the league with a rebuilding Bucks team, and playing his whole life at winning programs like Duke University and Simeon Career Academy high school, he hasn’t experienced much losing. He seems prepared to handle whatever his first season may bring, however, and said his brief professional experience at Summer League in Las Vegas has helped prepare him to meet that challenge.

“I definitely learned that winning isn’t guaranteed, especially in the Summer League,” Parker said. “So I just have to have that gratitude, and just be grateful for every win that I get. If I have that attitude, then we’ll bring some good things to Milwaukee, and hopefully bring those out into the playoffs if we get the chance.”

The post Jabari Parker says he’s ‘trying not to be that second pick bust’ appeared first on IdealCapper.