Oh, boy. That pretty much defines tonight’s matchup against the Golden State Warriors. The Bucks have lost 11 straight road games and it looks like there is a very strong chance that tonight will be 12. Milwaukee will be without the services of Greg Monroe, their leading point scorer, as he is expected to sit out his third consecutive game of the road trip with a sore knee.
It’s safe to say that the stars don’t seem to align particularly nice for tonight’s game. Monroe was a key reason to the Bucks’ upset victory over Golden State last Saturday with his consistent play down the stretch. He ended up netting 28 points and was one of the main reasons Milwaukee was able to break the streak.
The Warriors have played only one game since being upset by the Bucks and wasted no time getting back into the groove of things. They blew out the Suns at home by a lopsided score of 128-103, extending their home-winning streak to 29 straight games. Their shooting percentages also got back on track, as Steph Curry finished with 25 points in 30 minutes of play and Klay Thompson tallied a 27 point third quarter, showcasing the firepower offense that defines this team.
photo: Aaron Gash, AP
Add in the fact that the Warriors will be seeking revenge and it doesn’t get any easier. As we all know, the Bucks broke their 28 game-winning streak last Saturday and some of their celebratory acts didn’t suit the Warriors. Numerous players such as Klay Thompson, Draymond Green and Stephen Curry referenced they felt disrespected by some of the celebrations that ensued after the Bucks snapped their streak.
One of the main instances that stood out was after Michael Carter-Williams threw down a breakaway dunk that sealed the victory. He yelled in excitement and stared at the Golden State bench, resulting in some hasty postgame comments. It’s safe to say tonight’s matchup will have a bit of added flavor to it.
Who knows, many people doubted the Bucks in their first matchup against the Warriors. The chances of them pulling out the upset are in front of them again, but right now the odds seem to be extremely stacked against them. Milwaukee enters the game as 19-point underdogs and to some, that’s generous. For as well as Golden State can shoot the basketball and with the mentality they seem to be bringing to tonight’s game, it seems as if the Bucks’ chances of winning have already set sailed and that we might be in for another long night. Oracle Arena will have a higher than normal buzz to it and don’t be surprised if you see “10-18” shirts being worn in the stands.
However, the outcome is never determined until the final buzzer sounds. Hopefully the Bucks can play with grit and determination that will push their hustle category to an all-time high. With that mindset, anything can happen in this beautiful game of basketball.