Game Preview: Lakers @ Bucks

The Lakers will complete their 5-game road trip and the second half of a back-to-back in a Saturday night showdown. Their opponent? Giannis Antetokounmpo and the Milwaukee Bucks.

The Bucks come into the matchup 8-5, good for 5th in the Eastern Conference. This makes this matchup another test for LA to see where they stand. Here are the keys to a Lakers victory.

Containing Giannis 

By now, everyone knows stopping Giannis Antetokounmpo is impossible. The former MVP is off to another incredible start to the season, averaging 32.6 points, 11.5 rebounds, and 7.3 assists. He has also shown his DPOY-level defense, averaging nearly 3 STOCKS per game.

Perhaps the wildest stat, though, for the Greek Freak this year is his 47% mark from 3. It may be on low volume (1.5 3PA), but it still is eye-popping. The matchup on Antetokounmpo will likely go to Jarred Vanderbilt and Deandre Ayton. This makes them very important pieces of the puzzle tonight.

It will also be interesting to see if JJ Redick elects to give Antetokounmpo some of the Nikola Jokic treatment. This means putting a smaller man on him for front entry passes. This would also allow for help to come from the corners. If so, Marcus Smart is the perfect candidate for that strategy.

Staying Efficient

The Bucks come in 1st in field goal percentage in the NBA. The Lakers are just behind them in 3rd. The difference, though, comes from the 3-point line. There, the Bucks are 2nd in percentage. Meanwhile, the Lakers are 25th.

In addition to that, the Bucks are also top 6 in 3-point percentage against, whereas the Lakers are league average. If the Lakers want to win tonight, they must be able to hit their 3s at a reasonable clip. Taking 2’s likely will not win them the game.

This means LA’s star guards, Luka Doncic and Austin Reaves, will have to shoot above their respective 31% and 30% marks. This is in addition to role guys like Rui Hachimura and Jake LaRavia knocking down open looks.

Wrap Up: 

A win tonight would put the Lakers in double digits in that column. They would join only OKC and Detroit. A victory would also give them a positive 3-2 mark on the road trip. This would be a good sign, considering most elite teams stay above .500 on the road.

The Lakers will return to LA after the game. They will then enjoy a couple of off days before returning to play against the Jazz on November 18th.