Orlando Magic vs. Milwaukee Bucks (April 11, 2021): 3 Things To Watch, Odds and Prediction
The Orlando Magic take on a possibly undermanned Milwaukee Bucks team as they continue to try to come together and build with their new roster.
Orlando Magic (17-35) vs. Milwaukee Bucks (32-20)
Time/TV:
7 p.m./Bally Sports Florida
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2021 Season Series:
in Orlando on Jan. 11; Tonight in Orlando; May 11 in Milwaukee
| Pace | Off. Rtg. | Def. Rtg. | eFG% | O.Reb.% | TO% | FTR | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Milwaukee | 102.4 | 116.0 | 110.4 | 56.4 | 27.1 | 13.8 | 22.8 |
| Orlando | 99.0 | 105.3 | 112.3 | 49.4 | 25.3 | 13.1 | 22.3 |
OMD Prediction
It seems like a habit but we are watching the injury report again. Mohamed Bamba (left hip contusion) and Chuma Okeke (sore right hip) are both questionable after picking up knocks in recent games. The Magic are still very short-handed — especially at center and power forward — and their absences would make it nearly impossible to win. Orlando has seen Okeke struggle the last few games as defenses adjust to him. Although maybe his injury is as much the issue.
The Milwaukee Bucks have been walking wounded for a while too. Khris Middleton, Jrue Holiday and Giannis Antetokounmpo missed Friday’s loss to the Charlotte Hornets. Middleton and Holiday were upgraded to probable for Sunday’s game while Antetokounmpo remains doubtful. The Magic will find it hard to beat the Bucks unless the team is playing at its sharpest. Even with the Bucks at half speed.
38. Prediction. 112. 89. 102
3 Keys To Watch
Interior struggles
The first place to start with the Orlando Magic facing the Milwaukee Bucks is how they match up physically with Brook Lopez. The Magic have to make a living in the paint, relying on 3-point shooting is not going to lead this to wins. The Bucks are not running their patented drop coverage as much this season but Lopez remains a big presence inside.
Orlando struggled with its rebounding shortly after the trade deadline. After being the best rebounding team in the league before the deadline, they have fallen to 20th in the league since the trade deadline. The last few games, the Magic have committed two or three extra bodies to the offensive glass with both Wendell Carter and Mohamed Bamba struggling to clean up the glass consistently — Cole Anthony’s return will also help with rebounding as he is a skilled rebounder for a guard.
The Bucks are not a great team at getting to the offensive glass. But they will find their ways to score second-chance points. Everything for the Magic has to start with locking down the interior and making sure Lopez does not beat them.
Uneven Bucks
The Milwaukee Bucks during the last few weeks have been a bit uneven. Injuries hit them hard during their West Coast trip. But they have hit cruise control with losses in six of their last nine games after completing an eight-game win streak. Milwaukee is probably right to use this stretch to get themselves healthy for a final push in the final quarter of the season.
The Bucks are still their three-headed monster offensively. Giannis Antetokounmpo provides a big chunk of the scoring punch and Jrue Holiday and Khris Middleton are capable of putting up big scoring numbers. This season, the Bucks have a 117.4 offensive rating with Antetokounmpo on the floor and a 110.1 offensive rating with him off the floor. That is still offense good enough to give the Magic problems.
Minutes split
Coach Steve Clifford has been a bit egalitarian with his minutes the last few games as he has worked to get everyone into the game. The Magic have no reason not to play everyone — although Devin Cannady is sort of squeezed out of the rotation with Michael Carter-Williams, R.J. Hampton and Cole Anthony all needing time at the guard spots and at point guard specifically. But the minute distribution in the last two games has been impressive and shows a willingness to let the young players play.
In the last two games, only Chuma Okeke has topped 30 minutes per game. Only five players have topped 24 minutes per game — that includes Cole Anthony, playing in his first two games following a 25-game absence. Clifford said the back-to-back with eight players to end the road trip took its toll on his players. So he may be scaling back to give them some time to recover. But no one should complain that Clifford is not giving players their time.
Next. Orlando Magic still building trust and discipline on defense. dark
He might need to do a better job sprinkling veterans around into different lineups. And more likely than not, this is not the team’s final rotation. Clifford probably still has some tweaks he is going to implement and final playing groups to devise.