nbaliveleague.com - Game of the Week

Milwaukee (63 - 9)

Expert Pick
0% >< 0%

Philadelphia (61 - 11)

ECF Heavyweights Square Off

We are coming close to the midpoint of the season now, and one thing remains clear, Philly and Milwuakee are the class of the ECF, and perhaps NLL as a whole, and will continue to chomp down on their inferior NLL foes. The question is, who will reign victorious during the rematch of these two heavyweights after the 76ers came home with the W in game one. During game 1, in which we saw a result of 76ers 126, Bucks 109, it was once again the Harden and Dame show. The duo combined to score 65 points, and shot an efficient 52% from the floor and 38% from 3. Giannis managed to have a solid game putting up 29 points, 23 boards, and 4 blocks, though key contributors for the Bucks in Lavine, SGA, Edwards, and P Will could not pick up their end of the bargain, and the Bucks dropped the game.

In the 2nd rendition of the game will we see much of the same, or will Giannis and Co. triumph like they did last year on their way to an NLL championship.

I tend to lean to the latter in this specific game, for one key reason. The 6ers will be without their leader and unquestioned 1B star in Damian Lillard, who will miss the week due to injury. While the Bucks will also have to deal with the absence of SGA, it will be much less of a loss due to the teams depth which far surpasses that of Philadelphia's. The Bucks will roll out the Bosnian Bear this week, and his fit alongside Giannis will be one thing to watch for. Can two not shooting big men share the court, especially when Giannis main means of scoring is getting to the rim? Can they get their shots off with the Stifle Tower around to impact thing on the block? These all are questions being asked heading into this marquee matchup.

Bucks Star

Anthony Edwards
There were to many candidates to choose from here. With SGA's extended absence we have seen the rise of Tre Youngs playing time, and he has some pretty outrageous number disparity between PPG and MPG. That being said, I had to continue the rookie trend here and plug in Anthony Edwards as I feel Edwards is the key to both the Bucks short, and long term success. If Edwards can turn into a star sooner rather than later, we should see this team seperate from even the 76ers, and rain as the league's premiere team with perhaps only OKC or LAC having a say. This week the Bucks will look for solid scoring, and especially defense out of the young buck. He will have his hands full as he should find himself opposite of James Harden for a handful of minutes in this game. If Edwards can even stifle Harden a bit, this game get's much more winnable for the Bucks. If he can hamper Harden, and make him turn out a bad day, this might turn into a snoozer.

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76ers Star

Tyrese Maxey
My initial default here was D Rose, though since he is out with Illness too, the minutes will default to the rookie Maxey. Of course Harden will need to shoulder a huge load for the team to be competitive in this game, though Maxey should not be overlooked, as if this team is to have success in this game and this week, Maxey will need to step up his game from the form we have seen thus far this season. Maxey is averaging 6.5 PPG on the year, in 16 minutes of time, with some dismal shooting percentages of 33% from the field, and 22% from 3. To say that the team will be dealing with a massive talent step back from Lillard to Maxey would be an understatement, but you can never truly count out James Harden in these types of situations.

Calling my shot now, Harden is going for 50 in this game.

X-Factor
We are getting to that time of the season, especially in a pandemic season where injuries start to hit hard. Case in point the 76ers top two PG's will miss the week. The Bucks are returning Nurkic as touched on earlier, and he should be a big boost to the teams early season front court woes. Depth is the X-factor here for both teams. Can Philly score enough, and stop the premiere scorers on the Bucks bench when Harden and Gobert have a seat? Can the Bucks get some real output from it's rookie contributors in Patrick Williams and Anthony Edwards? Williams is rounding into form in the NBA, though is lagging behind in terms of 2k development. Case in point he started and played 32 minutes in game 1 of this matchup, and did not score a single point. I am looking for a good game from him offensively and defensively and as touched on earlier I think we see Anthony Edwards have a quite large impact in this game. Prediction: Bucks 122-113. Perhaps I am discounting the team that got it's second loss of the season just last week, but I think taking on a team with this much talent while missing a guy like Dame is just too high of a mountain to climb. Best of luck to all teams this week, especially these two heavyweights hoping into the ring together!

X-Factor

We are getting to that time of the season, especially in a pandemic season where injuries start to hit hard. Case in point the 76ers top two PG's will miss the week. The Bucks are returning Nurkic as touched on earlier, and he should be a big boost to the teams early season front court woes.

Depth is the X-factor here for both teams. Can Philly score enough, and stop the premiere scorers on the Bucks bench when Harden and Gobert have a seat? Can the Bucks get some real output from it's rookie contributors in Patrick Williams and Anthony Edwards?

Williams is rounding into form in the NBA, though is lagging behind in terms of 2k development. Case in point he started and played 32 minutes in game 1 of this matchup, and did not score a single point.

I am looking for a good game from him offensively and defensively and as touched on earlier I think we see Anthony Edwards have a quite large impact in this game.

Prediction:

Bucks 122-113.

Perhaps I am discounting the team that got it's second loss of the season just last week, but I think taking on a team with this much talent while missing a guy like Dame is just too high of a mountain to climb. Best of luck to all teams this week, especially these two heavyweights hoping into the ring together!