GT: 3/24/17 Bucks vs. Hawks (7pm CST - NBATV/FS-WI)

Max Green · Post #1 » by **Max Green** » Fri Mar 24, 2017 3:58 am

MILWAUKEE -- Friday night just got a lot more interesting.

The surging Milwaukee Bucks (36-35) come back to town riding high after a 4-2 swing through the west, moving them into a tie with Indiana for the sixth seed in the Eastern Conference and a game behind Atlanta for the No. 5 spot.

And as luck would have it, guess who's next on Milwaukee's schedule.

The Bucks have lost four in a row to the Hawks, including the first three meetings this season, and seven of their last eight overall against Atlanta.

The Hawks come to Milwaukee looking to snap a five-game skid. They've lost eight of their last 11 overall to tie their loss total (34) from last season.

It hasn't helped that Atlanta (37-34) has gone without forward Paul Millsap (knee tightness) for the last three games -- he won't play Friday -- or Kent Bazemore, who has sat out the last two with a bone bruise in his right knee.

But with only 11 games remaining and seven of those teams either battling for a spot or jockeying for position, its crunch time for the Hawks.

"This is a great challenge for us, to be fighting a little bit for playoff spots," Hawks coach Mike Budenholzer said. "There's teams behind us that are trying to move up. We don't have a couple of our guys, but that's how our league is. Everybody goes through it at different times. This just happens to be our time."

Recent history aside, the Hawks will be in for a fight against the Bucks, who have won nine of their last 11 games to charge back into the playoff picture.

Not coincidentally, Milwaukee's resurgence began when Khris Middleton returned to the starting lineup.

The fifth-year swingman missed the first 50 games of the season with a torn hamstring, but he is averaging 15.4 points on 49.3 percent shooting from the field, including 48.3 percent from outside the arc.

"Since he's been back, he's been our go-to-guy, our finisher at the end of games," point guard Malcolm Brogdon said. "He's our finisher not just because he is a scorer, but he's a playmaker.

"He makes the great decisions at the end of games."

Milwaukee's climb up the standings aside, Bucks coach Jason Kidd is encouraging his players to stay in the moment. He wants them to focus on the game ahead and not the long-term possibilities.

"You can't look ahead," Kidd said. "We have to understand we can't think about the fifth spot. We can't think about the sixth spot or the seventh or eighth."

In three meetings with the Bucks this season, the Hawks have averaged 110.6 points. Millsap averaged 20.7 and Milwaukee's Giannis Antetokounmpo put up 24.3 with 9.3 rebounds, 4.7 assists, 2.0 blocks and 1.0 steals.

"Every game counts for us right now," Bucks center Greg Monroe said. "We're in a good position, but we have to finish it out. It's just locking in and trying to keep it going."

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Prince12 · Post #2 » by **Prince12** » Fri Mar 24, 2017 4:15 am

Huge game. Can't wait. Every game feels huge.

FlagsFlyForever · Post #3 » by **FlagsFlyForever** » Fri Mar 24, 2017 4:16 am

Prince12 wrote:Can't wait. Every game feels huge.

My thoughts exactly. This run has been fun.

HKPackFan · Post #4 » by **HKPackFan** » Fri Mar 24, 2017 4:30 am

Max is back. YAY.

This game is pretty exciting. I think the BC is gonna be rocking. Friday night, battling for playoff position, surging home team after a long road trip. YES, I like it!

HKPackFan · Post #5 » by **HKPackFan** » Fri Mar 24, 2017 4:32 am

I don't think this game clashes badly with WI sweet 16 game. In fact, this is one of those times having the new arena and entertainment district is perfect. People after the game can flood the pubs/sports bars to catch the badgers game, or if they have a big wall of TVs at the arena outside and a beer garden, people stick around to watch the game.

Baddy Chuck · Post #6 » by **Baddy Chuck** » Fri Mar 24, 2017 4:38 am

Go Bucks. **** Dwight Howard.

Post #7 » by **Prez** » Fri Mar 24, 2017 4:45 am

**** Mike Dunleavy too.

Prince12 · Post #8 » by **Prince12** » Fri Mar 24, 2017 4:48 am

Prez wrote:**** Mike Dunleavy too.

Especially this.

blazza18 · Post #9 » by **blazza18** » Fri Mar 24, 2017 4:51 am

Very trap gamey to me.

worthlessBucks · Post #10 » by **worthlessBucks** » Fri Mar 24, 2017 4:54 am

HKPackFan wrote:Max is back. YAY.

That's Max's music..by gawd.

Wisky4life · Post #11 » by **Wisky4life** » Fri Mar 24, 2017 4:55 am

Bucks win. Just waiting for those playoffs to start.

HKPackFan · Post #12 » by **HKPackFan** » Fri Mar 24, 2017 5:05 am

Best 1 Game suspension in the history of the Milwaukee Bucks...

**** off MDJ

KidA24 · Post #13 » by **KidA24** » Fri Mar 24, 2017 5:07 am

HKPackFan wrote:Max is back. Alright!

Ftfy

Pachinko_ · Post #14 » by **Pachinko_** » Fri Mar 24, 2017 5:09 am

HKPackFan wrote:Best 1 Game suspension in the history of the Milwaukee Bucks...

**** off MDJ

that kid knows how to win your hearts

JustinCredible · Post #15 » by **JustinCredible** » Fri Mar 24, 2017 5:44 am

HKPackFan wrote:Max is back. YAY.

This game is pretty exciting. I think the BC is gonna be rocking. Friday night, battling for playoff position, surging home team after a long road trip. YES, I like it!

Unfortunately I think the Badger game will make for a smaller crowd. I know they don't play until 9pm but it will still affect the turnout.

Post #16 » by **Prez** » Fri Mar 24, 2017 5:45 am

Pretty nicely sums up the vibe of the team right now.

Prince12 · Post #17 » by **Prince12** » Fri Mar 24, 2017 5:48 am

HKPackFan wrote:Best 1 Game suspension in the history of the Milwaukee Bucks...

**** off MDJ

Was in a suite for this game. Knew very early on to hit the free beers hard and by the time he got ejected I was blind. Blind, sad but proud.

HKPackFan · Post #18 » by **HKPackFan** » Fri Mar 24, 2017 5:50 am

Prince12 wrote:
HKPackFan wrote:Best 1 Game suspension in the history of the Milwaukee Bucks...

**** off MDJ

Was in a suite for this game. Knew very early on to hit the free beers hard and by the time he got ejected I was blind. Blind, sad but proud.

Mallory and I communicated on twitter that night. So in a way, we had sex.

H2tObes · Post #19 » by **H2tObes** » Fri Mar 24, 2017 6:12 am

I'm actually really excited for a Bucks regular season game, what a strange feeling

Prince12 · Post #20 » by **Prince12** » Fri Mar 24, 2017 6:39 am

HKPackFan wrote:
Prince12 wrote:
HKPackFan wrote:Best 1 Game suspension in the history of the Milwaukee Bucks...

**** off MDJ

Was in a suite for this game. Knew very early on to hit the free beers hard and by the time he got ejected I was blind. Blind, sad but proud.

Mallory and I communicated on twitter that night. So in a way, we had sex.

You win. By a heap.