Bucks Schedule Breakdown and Predictions for Final 6 Weeks of 2014-15 Season
With just more than a month of regular-season action left on the slate, now is not the time for the Milwaukee Bucks to accept that the 2014-15 season has been a massive success compared to what most thought it would be. Instead, the team must shift into a higher gear and finish strong.
Since trading Brandon Knight—arguably the team's best offensive asset—the Bucks haven't exactly retained their winning ways.
In fact, the team is just 2-5 since the All-Star break and has lost some games in which they should have been victorious—notably to the Los Angeles Lakers and Denver Nuggets.
Whether it's an issue with chemistry or the Bucks are just hitting a rough spot, they need to quickly plug the leak and get back to playing quality basketball.
How does their schedule stack up the rest of the way, and will it allow for them to easily do that?
March 3 to March 8
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Weekly Schedule and Predictions
Saturday, March 7: vs. Washington (L)
Earlier in the week, the Bucks lost a winnable game against the Nuggets 106-95 and were handed an expected defeat at the hands of the Golden State Warriors, 102-93.
To close out the week, they come home to host John Wall and the struggling Washington Wizards.
Certainly the Bucks are running into the Wizards at an opportune time—they're just 3-7 in their last 10 games—but that doesn't mean beating the talented squad will be a walk in the park for Jason Kidd's team.
Wall—who is averaging a double-double with 17.2 points and 10.1 assists—will make Michael Carter-Williams work all night on the defensive end and does a nice job of getting to the free-throw line plenty with 5.4 attempts per game.
The Wizards also present a formidable front line of Marcin Gortat and Nene, which will force John Henson and Zaza Pachulia to be on top of their games defensively.
When all is said and done, playing the Wizards when they're down may not be the best timing. They'll surely be hungry for a win, and the Bucks won't be able to catch them off guard.
March 9 to March 15
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Weekly Schedule and Predictions
Monday, March 9: vs. New Orleans (L)
Wednesday, March 11: vs. Orlando (W)
Thursday, March 12: at Indiana (W)
Saturday, March 14: at Memphis (L)
There are two wins on the table for the Bucks during this stretch of games, with a third being possible against the New Orleans Pelicans if they play to their highest level and limit mistakes.
Despite not playing well, they should be able to handle the Magic and Pacers on back-to-back nights. However, this is a week that's bookended by two talented, stout opponents headlined by the Memphis Grizzlies.
Offensively, the Bucks tend to go through some very rough spells. Despite their defense being worthy of mention amongst the league's best, the Grizzlies are even better. Memphis is holding opponents to a league-best 95.6 points per game.
With Knight's departure, the Bucks lack a true go-to scorer to get them points on a consistent basis, and against a team with as profound of a defense as the Grizzlies, that's not going to be very conducive to walking out of Memphis with a victory.
Despite beating them earlier this season, don't expect the Bucks to repeat that feat here.
March 16 to March 22
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Weekly Schedule and Predictions
Tuesday, March 17: at New Orleans (L)
Wednesday, March 18: vs. San Antonio (W)
Friday, March 20: at Brooklyn (W)
Sunday, March 22: vs. Cleveland (L)
This week's slate of games is highlighted by LeBron James and the Cleveland Cavaliers making a trip to the BMO Harris Bradley Center for the first of two games against the Bucks down the stretch.
Milwaukee should get a win against the Nets and might be able to steal one from the Spurs given that the defending champions will be playing their second game in as many nights and are an older squad.
However, trying to slow down a Cavs team that has been playing as well as many thought they were capable of doing when the season began is quite a monumental task. Even if the Bucks defense comes to play, it's not going to be enough to completely thwart the Cavs offense.
And given that the Bucks have had more than their share of ups and downs offensively this year, that doesn't bode well for scoring an upset.
They won't get blown out and should put up a good fight, but they'll ultimately fall short in knocking off King James and Co. during a busy week.
March 23 to March 29
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Weekly Schedule & Predictions
Tuesday, March 24: vs. Miami (W)
Thursday, March 26: vs. Indiana (W)
Saturday, March 28, vs. Golden State (L)
A stretch of home games highlights a week that should see the Bucks winning the first two during this three-game run.
Capping off the week is a home game against the Warriors, a team that beat the Bucks 102-93 March 4 inside the always raucous Oracle Arena in Oakland. The Bucks proved they could play one of the league's best teams tough, but ultimately they couldn't close things out to get the win.
Defending Stephen Curry and Klay Thompson was something the Bucks did well in that game. Despite Curry scoring 19 points, they held him to just 6-of-16 shooting. Meanwhile, Thompson struggled to score his 13 points, knocking down five of 16 attempts.
Focusing their efforts on Curry and Thompson, while smart, allowed players like Draymond Green and Shaun Livingston to have big games and push the Warriors to victory.
It's unlikely Curry and Thompson both will be kept at bay that well again, meaning the late-March showdown will be difficult for the Bucks to turn in their favor.
March 30 to April 4
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Weekly Schedule and Predictions
Monday, March 30: at Atlanta (L)
Wednesday, April 1: vs. Chicago (L)
Friday, April 3: at Boston (W)
Saturday, April 4: vs. Orlando (W)
After playing host to the Warriors, things don't get easier for the Bucks with a quick trip south to play the Eastern Conference-leading Atlanta Hawks and then a home game against the Chicago Bulls.
And while it may seem like the Hawks should be overwhelming favorites, Milwaukee has played them tough each time the two teams have met this season, including a dominating 107-77 win back on December 26.
That said, since trading Knight, the Bucks don't seem to have the same chemistry, especially when it comes to the offense. The Hawks allow the second-fewest points per game in the league at 96.3 and shouldn't have much issue holding down a Bucks team trying to find a go-to scorer and new offensive identity.
Undoubtedly, the Bucks have a great defense themselves, but that can only get you so far when you're having trouble scoring the ball consistently.
Apri 8 to April 15
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Weekly Schedule and Predictions
Wednesday, April 8: vs. Cleveland (L)
Friday, April 10: at New York (W)
Sunday, April 12: vs. Brooklyn (W)
Monday, April 13: at Philadelphia (W)
Wednesday, April 15: vs. Boston (W)
Thanks in large part to a weak schedule, the Bucks should be able to end the season on a high note, assuming they can take care of the teams who they—on paper—are unequivocally better than.
Before an East Coast road trip that should bring multiple wins, the Bucks must first play host to the Cavs one final time. And while it would certainly be rewarding to bring down a team just hitting its stride like Cleveland is, the Cavs simply have too many options and are playing too well.
If it's not LeBron James, it's Kyrie Irving. If it's not Irving, it's Kevin Love. With a multitude of offensive weapons—don't forget J.R. Smith has played well since joining the team—Milwaukee faces a steep, uphill challenge.
Still, with winnable games to finish things out, if the Bucks play to their capability, they should be able to overcome the tough strength of schedule they face over the last six weeks.
The End to a Surprising Season
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While a 12-9 finish to the season may be optimistic given the way the Bucks have been playing since dealing Brandon Knight prior to the trade deadline, given what this team has accomplished in 2014-15, it wouldn't be surprising either.
There are plenty of games remaining on their schedule that they should win. Of course, that doesn't mean they'll win all of those, but the fact remains that they are winnable contests.
Despite whether or not the Bucks finish on a huge upswing, it has been an incredible year that has rekindled interest in the team. Not only that, but it also has become apparent that Coach Kidd and management have a clear vision of what they want this franchise to be moving forward.
And that in itself is a major win.
Final Predicted Regular Season Record: 44-38
Playoff Seed: No. 6
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