Essentials
- Teams: Milwaukee Bucks (9-7) at Detroit Pistons (3-12)
- Date: November 28
- Time: 7:30 p.m.
- Television: FSD+
Get in the Game
The Milwaukee Bucks have been playing a chess game with the Detroit Pistons this season, and the one who wins tonight will likely also collect a victory on the scoreboard.
In the first contest in Detroit, Milwaukee was often a few steps slow reacting to the Pistons’ ball movement and pick-and-roll game. Andre Drummond and Co. were able to get quality looks on both the interior and the perimeter, which led to a win.
In the second meeting, the Bucks smartly adjusted their scheme. With Brandon Jennings missing the game with a thumb injury, Milwaukee blitzed every pick-and-roll in an effort to keep the ball on one side of the floor.
The tactic actually worked and flummoxed the Pistons who turned the ball over 19 times. In an effort to keep Detroit players guessing the Bucks kept things interesting by alternating between hard and soft traps. What’s more, after double-teaming seemingly every low-post touch in the first head-to-head matchup, Milwaukee stayed at home the second time around.
The wrinkle was interesting because it forced the Pistons to space the floor in a manner that head coach Stan Van Gundy likely loathes. The Bucks had rookie Jabari Parker defend Greg Monroe, and the southpaw responded by scoring 15 points on 7-of-10 shooting.
Sure, Parker had trouble with Monroe, but that misses the bigger picture. It put Drummond in the high post and Josh Smith on the perimeter, where he tends to settle for low-percentage long-range shots.
Van Gundy was hardly outclassed, though. He turned things into his favor by running big pick-and-rolls, and the Bucks struggled with those. Smith became the lead ball-handler in the screen-and-roll game and responded by dishing out eight assists. He repeatedly fed Drummond for scores at the basket.
What’s more, Detroit posted up Smith in an effort to capitalize on his finishing ability and passing skills. It worked brilliantly as he was able to dissect the Bucks’ defense with some impressive reads.
It’ll be interesting to see what changes are made tonight when these teams face each other. Will Milwaukee keep the same strategy that produced a win, or will they go back to playing pick-and-rolls straight up just to confuse the Pistons?
Or what about throwing out the Hack-a-Smith? Indeed, the highflyer has only made 6-of-20 (!) free throws against the Bucks so far this season.
So many variables and adjustments will determine tonight’s game. Let’s see if the Pistons are on the right end of the required changes.
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