OKC Thunder open back-to-back versus champion Bucks – preview

Key matchup:

Presumably, the main defender on Giannis Antetokounmpo will be Luguentz Dort but expect to see each of Darius Bazley, Jeremiah Robinson-Earl, and even Derrick Favors to get some time guarding the Greek Freak.

No one can stop him so limiting him, going at him on defense and trying to tire him out is the mandate. The concern is with Middleton back and the overall two-way play of Jrue Holiday it sort of feels like controlling the other side parts of the three-headed monster are more important than using all your resources to stop Giannis.

Holiday is a deft defender who’ll cause no end of issues for his likely primary assignment of Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and possibly some time on Josh Giddey. The Bucks point guard is averaging 13 points, four rebounds, six assists, and 1.6 steals.

He still hasn’t found his shooting rhythm this season putting up efficiencies of 38.4 percent from the field and 30.6 percent from deep.  Albeit the return of Middleton and his floor spacing will provide better driving lanes for Holiday and wide-open shots.

That said, Holiday was abysmal from the floor in the last match against the Lakers shooting .23,1 percent from the field, 16.7 percent from deep, and 50 percent from the stripe.

Prior to his injury, Middleton was also struggling to find his shooting rhythm averaging 19.4 points but shooting 26.8 percent from deep.

If the Thunder are invested in being competitive I’d put Dort on one of Holiday either on Holiday to shut down the passing lanes or Middleton to keep him from having a big night. Do their best to limit Giannis but shutting down the others and taking trying to limit GA feels like a better path to potentially stealing one at Fiserv Forum.

Notably, unlike some teams who’ve slept on the Thunder, this Bucks squad never gets caught in trap games especially given their season start.