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Milwaukee Bucks vs. Brooklyn Nets playoff series preview

By Steven Schauer

LAKE BUENA VISTA, FLORIDA - AUGUST 26: The benches are empty prior to the scheduled start of the first half of game five between the Orlando Magic and the Milwaukee Bucks in the first round of the 2020 NBA Playoffs at ESPN Wide World Of Sports Complex on August 26, 2020 in Lake Buena Vista, Florida. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Ashley Landis-Pool/Getty Images)
LAKE BUENA VISTA, FLORIDA - AUGUST 26: The benches are empty prior to the scheduled start of the first half of game five between the Orlando Magic and the Milwaukee Bucks in the first round of the 2020 NBA Playoffs at ESPN Wide World Of Sports Complex on August 26, 2020 in Lake Buena Vista, Florida. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Ashley Landis-Pool/Getty Images) /
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Will the winner of this series be the Eastern Conference’s representative in the NBA Finals? One thing is for sure, the semifinals matchup between the Milwaukee Bucks and Brooklyn Nets has been anticipated for some time.

Milwaukee made quick work of the Miami Heat in the opening round with a 4-0 sweep and included victories in Games 2 and 3 that combined for a 63 point margin. The Bucks showed their offensive prowess and also locked down on defense when needed.

Meanwhile, Brooklyn took down the Boston Celtics in a five-game series that really should have been a sweep. The Nets can score and proved that by racking up 119 or more points in four of the five games.

The regular season notes

The Bucks led the league at 120.1 points per game, while the Nets were second with 118.6.

Milwaukee won two of the three games against Brooklyn during the season, winning the last two games 117-114 (May 2) and 124-118 (May 4). In the first meeting on Jan. 18, the game came down to a Kevin Durant go-ahead 3-pointer with 36 seconds to play to give the Nets a 125-123 win.

The second meeting was again close, 117-114, and Milwaukee escaped overtime after Durant missed two 3-point attempts in the final minute. Giannis Antetokounmpo and Durant put on a show during the Sunday afternoon nationally televised game. Giannis had 49 points, eight rebounds, four assists, and three blocks. Durant ended with 42 points and 10 rebounds.

It is going to be a heavyweight fight from the opening tip.

Here are three things to watch for between the Milwaukee Bucks and the Brooklyn Nets:

What Big 3 will win the battle?

It’s no secret Durant, James Harden, and Kyrie Irving can be unstoppable. The trio is enough to win games without a supporting cast around them. Durant and Irving were tied for ninth in scoring during the regular season at 26.9 points per game. They both shot over 50 percent from the field, and Irving joined the elite 50/40/90 club.

He became the fifth player in NBA history to average at least 25.0 points and shoot 50 percent from the field, 40 percent from downtown, and 90 percent at the free-throw line.

You might be thinking: Milwaukee has a Big 3? Yes, the trio of Giannis, Khris Middleton, and Jrue Holiday should be considered among the best in the game. Giannis is Giannis — back-to-back MVPs.

Middleton has made a number of big-time, game-winning shots this season, including his game-winner in overtime during the opening game of the series against the Heat.

Holiday ranked seventh in steals (1.6) and 24th in assists (6.1) during the regular season. He was the perfect addition to the Milwaukee Bucks starting lineup to replace Eric Bledsoe. Holiday also had a 3.25 assist-to-turnover ratio, which was the best of his five-year career.

Will scoring or playing defense be more important?

238.7 points per game! Read that again. 238.7 combined points per game in the three meetings between Milwaukee and Brooklyn this season. According to ESPN, that is tied for the most between teams in a playoff series since 1984 – Denver vs. Utah.

Milwaukee topped 120 points 29 times and had 130 points twice in the regular season. Brooklyn, on the other hand, recorded over 120 points 20 times, including three games of 130-plus, and had an eye-popping 147 points on Jan. 29.

The Milwaukee Bucks were tied for ninth this season in defensive rating (110.7), and the Nets were 22nd (113.1). It’s also worth noting that Milwaukee had the second-most possessions per game (120.2) per 48 minutes.

It will really come down to who decides to play any defense, especially in the fourth quarter.

Home court advantage

Home court advantage is and always will be important in any playoff series. The Milwaukee Bucks posted a 26-10 record inside the Fiserv Forum, and the Nets were 28-8 at the Barclays Center.

They both had identical 20-16 records on the road.

It will truly come down to who can win a road game, preferably in one of the first three games.

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