Milwaukee at Philadelphia
Time: 7 PM CT (ESPN)
Spread: PHI -6.5
Total: 220
Odds c/o 5dimes
76ers
The Sixers are tuning up for the first playoff matchup since “The Process” began some five years ago. Philly is currently seeded No. 4 in the East.
Moving up is imperative for Philly, in hopes to avoid a first-round clash with either Toronto or Boston. As tight as the Eastern Conference standings are, Philly can radically improve its draw by closing this season strong, and all indications are that it will do just that. If the playoffs began today, the Sixers would face the Cleveland Cavaliers.
The 76ers have knocked off the Washington Wizards, New Orleans Pelicans, and L.A. Clippers in its past three games, winning all of the games by 13 points or more with an average margin of victory of 14.6 points. Its most recent win was a 112-98 win over the Clippers, as the Sixers had a late run to rally past the new look Clippers.
Second-year sensation Joel Embiid had 29 points and tied his career high with 16 rebounds. Ben Simmons had a double-double again with 14 points and 10 assists. Simmons is averaging 7.3 assists per game this season, and over his past 10 games, he has notched 7.7 assists along with 7.1 rebounds and 17.1 points. He has two double-doubles in his last five games and is in a neck-and-neck race with Utah’s Donovan Mitchell for the Rookie of the Year honor. Embiid is recovering from surgery to repair a broken orbital bone, and it is unknown whether he will be ready for the first round of the playoffs.
The Sixers are focused on bigger things than the award (like Embiid’s health and its seeding), especially after Embiid was (perhaps rightfully) snubbed for the award a year ago, mainly because he only played 32 games last season. Embiid has the makings of a true franchise player if he can remain healthy, and thus far this season he has. He has recently been cleared to play in back-to-back games, and the Sixers can also be thankful the postseason has no back-to-backs. Embiid is averaging 23.8 points, 11.2 rebounds, 3.2 assists and 2.5 blocks/steals per game in 31 minutes a night in his 43 appearances. He will be an All-Star this year in just his second season.
Bucks:
Giannis Antetokounmpo is having a tremendous season with 27.4 points per game, 10.1 rebounds and 4.8 assists and a PER of 27.8. But the Bucks also have a lot of depth and are a team that truly could be better than it already is.
After Giannis, the Bucks sport three borderline All-Star talents in Khris Middleton, Eric Bledsoe and Malcolm Brogdon. Brogdon has not improved much since his Rookie of the Year campaign a year ago, but he has proven a staunch defender and good team leader. Bledsoe is the secondary scorer at 17.4 points per game, a crucial acquisition that cost the Bucks only a plodding Greg Monroe to obtain.
Middleton is averaging 20 points per game and shooting 35.3 percent from three on five attempts per night. The Bucks also are still allowing Jabari Parker to round himself into shape after missing a full-year with an ACL injury.?If Parker returns to top form before the playoffs, the Bucks could be a major headache for a higher seed. Parker has averaged 11.3 points in just 21 minutes over 18 appearances since returning. Tony Snell is a marksman, and Brandon Jennings has provided a spark after spending a season in China.
The Bucks ideally have a top-end rotation strong enough on both ends of the court to be a problem for any team in the East, but there is no mistaking that this team is cued by the brilliance of Antetokounmpo. Milwaukee’s long and limber front court is able to disturb a lot of teams, even as Thon Maker continues to learn the ropes. Fear the Deer is a motto we may see popping up again soon, as this enigmatic team simply has yet to reach its full potential. Antetokounmpo has enough help, particularly with a healthy Parker in the fold.
