Milwaukee at L.A. Clippers
Time: 9:30 PM CT (TNT)
Spread: LAC -3
Total: 225
Odds c/o 5dimes
CLIPPERS
Los Angeles may have dealt superstar Blake Griffin, but it still retained leading scorer Lou Williams and re-signed him to a contract. He is averaging 23.3 points 2.5 rebounds and 5.3 assists in 32.5 minutes a night. The Clippers seemingly have just slid new acquisition Tobias Harris directly into the role once occupied by Griffin, and the role has been a revelation for Harris.
Through his first two games (both wins) he averaged 21.5 points, 4.5 rebounds and two assists per game while posting a PER of 17.4. Albeit, those figures are all shy of what Griffin did, but not tremendously so. Pairing Harris along with sharpshooter Danilo Gallinari gives the Clips a good 1-2 scoring punch in the frontcourt, and Austin Rivers is really pretty damn good for a guy who had already been billed a bust.
This year, Rivers is averaging 15.8 points and 3.6 assists per game in 32 minutes a night, thriving as a three-positional talent that surely was expected to be this good, if only on his father’s legacy. DeAndre Jordan was thought to be a trade target for several teams, but he remains in Los Angeles. ‘’?It was rumored the Clippers offered him to Houston in exchange for Clint Capela and were rebuked, but this writer makes no claim to such sources or validates the validity of said-rumors. No matter the case, Jordan forms the third part of a staunch frontline for the Clippers and the team hardly lacks in depth.
Veteran combo guard Avery Bradley was also acquired with Harris, and he is generally regarded as one of the most underrated players and best one-on-one perimeter defenders in the Association. Bradley is averaging just 10 points and three assists through his first two games, but the last outing he was an efficient 6 of 10 from the floor with three steals.?He makes his impact, in short.
The Clippers might not be the chic pick as true contenders, but it reasons that L.A. can absolutely sneak into the playoffs and be a formidable opponent (in other words not be swept necessarily) to one of the top-tier teams in the West.
The team has sufficient leadership, talent, and just because its identity is not really the same without Chris Paul and Blake Griffin does not mean that these pros cannot come together to gel quickly before the postseason arrives. L.A. should remain on the radar of dark horse sneaky teams that have gone under the radar. There is enough talent on the roster to put up a fight.
MIL Notes:
The Bucks have won its past two games coming off a 118-105 win over the Chicago Bulls and a 106-103 victory over the San Antonio Spurs. The Bucks are 39-34 and in third place in the Central Division.
Milwaukee has won three of its past five.
Giannis Antetokounmpo is having a tremendous season with 27.4 points per game, 10.1 rebounds and 4.8 assists and a PER of 27.8. But the Bucks also have a lot of depth and are a team that truly could be better than it already is.
After Giannis, the Bucks sport three borderline All-Star talents in Khris Middleton, Eric Bledsoe and Malcolm Brogdon. Brogdon has not improved much since his Rookie of the Year campaign a year ago, but he has proven a staunch defender and good team leader. Bledsoe is the secondary scorer at 17.4 points per game, a crucial acquisition that cost the Bucks only a plodding Greg Monroe to obtain.
Middleton is averaging 20 points per game and shooting 35.3 percent from three on five attempts per night. The Bucks also are still allowing Jabari Parker to round himself into shape after missing a full-year with an ACL injury.
If Parker returns to top form before the playoffs, the Bucks could be a major headache for a higher seed. Parker has averaged 11.3 points in just 21 minutes over 18 appearances since returning. Tony Snell is a marksman, and Brandon Jennings has provided a spark after spending a season in China.
The Bucks ideally have a top-end rotation strong enough on both ends of the court to be a problem for any team in the East, but there is no mistaking that this team is cued by the brilliance of Antetokounmpo. Milwaukee’s long and limber front court is able to disturb a lot of teams, even as Thon Maker continues to learn the ropes. Fear the Deer is a motto we may see popping up again soon, as this enigmatic team simply has yet to reach its full potential. Antetokounmpo has enough help, particularly with a healthy Parker in the fold.
