Milwaukee Bucks vs Indiana Pacers: Analysis and Prediction – Milwaukee Bucks will host Indiana Pacers in the NBA playoffs.
Milwaukee Bucks vs Indiana Pacers Odds
Milwaukee Bucks Team News
The Milwaukee Bucks are entering the playoffs in less than ideal form, having only two wins in their last eight games. They finished the regular season as the third seed in the Eastern Conference with a record of 49 wins and 33 losses.
It has been a quite turbulent season for the Milwaukee Bucks. Numerous coaching changes and a lack of depth contributed to their challenges, despite managing to secure the third seed. Their offense, especially in the first part of the season, was a key factor. Before the All-Star break, they ranked fifth in offensive rating, but that has significantly dropped, placing them 13th in the league in the latter part of the basketball year. However, their home court advantage could play a crucial role, as they have only lost 11 games at home while winning 33 this season. A major setback for them at the start of this series will be the absence of Giannis Antetokounmpo, who was a dominant force against the Indiana Pacers, scoring a remarkable 118 points in two out of five games played this year.
It will be essential for the Milwaukee Bucks to find ways to compensate for Giannis’ absence in terms of scoring. This presents a significant challenge, particularly for Damian Lillard, who needs to facilitate his teammates since their team ranks among the worst in the league in terms of assisted field goals, at only 61.5%, placing them 24th in the league. Additionally, their defense must step up, considering they are facing a primarily offense-oriented team.
Indiana Pacers Team News
The Indiana Pacers finished the regular season on a strong note, winning six out of their last eight games. They secured the sixth position in the Eastern Conference with a record of 47 wins and 35 losses in 82 games.
The Indiana Pacers had an excellent season overall, especially in terms of offense, where they ranked as the second-best offensive team in the league. This consistency in their offensive performance was a notable achievement, considering initial doubts about their ability to maintain it. Encouragingly, they also improved their defense significantly, moving up to the 14th defense in the league post-All-Star break compared to their previous ranking of 26th. The addition of Pascal Siakam contributed significantly to this defensive improvement, as he was brought in precisely for that purpose and will be a crucial asset in the playoffs, especially since he wasn’t part of the team during the five previous matchups this season.
The Pacers will aim to set the tempo early in the game with their offense, which is their strongest suit. Tyrese Haliburton’s contribution will be essential, particularly as he regains his form post-injury. Defensively, their focus will be on containing Damian Lillard, and they cannot afford to falter in that aspect.
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Milwaukee Bucks vs Indiana Pacers H2H
The Indiana Pacers have been quite dominant against the Milwaukee Bucks this season, winning four out of their five matchups. Their most recent encounter ended with a score of 142-130 in favor of the Pacers. Tyrese Haliburton was instrumental in that game, scoring 31 points and dishing out 12 assists. It’s worth noting that all these games occurred before Doc Rivers took over as the Bucks’ coach.
Absences and Injuries
For the upcoming game, the Milwaukee Bucks will be missing Giannis Antetokounmpo, Jaylin Galloway, and AJ Green, while Benedict Mathurin won’t be available for the Indiana Pacers.
Milwaukee Bucks vs Indiana Pacers Prediction
Tip-off Time: Monday, 22.04.2024, 01:00 CET
Prediction: Indiana Pacers to win
Odds: 1.85
Sportsbook: Rabona
*Odds are active at the time the article is published
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