The Orlando Magic are back home for NBA Cup action, and the matchup with the Milwaukee Bucks comes with a simple question hanging over it: can Orlando finally get its first home win of the season?
The Magic return to the Kia Center after splitting a four-game west coast road trip 2-2. Now they get a Bucks team that, according to Milwaukee Bucks On SI reporter Ti Windisch, has been dealing with a rough stretch on and off the floor.
“Mostly, bad! While it was time for the Bucks to move on from Giannis given his clear desire to exit Milwaukee, the Bucks have struggled mightily on the court without him. His public grievances last season were an off-court cloud, and while it is a relief to no longer have a franchise player angling to get out, the Bucks have replaced that cloud with a new one in the pending Gary Trent Jr. investigation.”
Windisch did point to one bright spot for Milwaukee: “At least rookies Brayden Burries and Nate Ament have been fun to watch!”
The biggest issue for the Bucks right now, though, is in the middle. Milwaukee came into the season expecting Myles Turner and Kel’el Ware to give it real value at center, but both have been underwhelming early on. That has left the Bucks scrambling for answers, even turning to Kyle Kuzma at the 5 in recent games.
That’s a big reason Milwaukee has had trouble finishing games. Windisch said the Bucks have generally competed, even if the results haven’t followed. The pattern has been familiar: they hang around for most of the night, then hit one cold stretch where the offense dries up and the other team runs away in transition.
“Expect 2-3 compelling quarters, and then look for Orlando to build a huge lead if the pattern holds and the Bucks go half of a quarter or more without scoring hardly any buckets.”
If Milwaukee is going to flip that script, it likely needs more than just a strong night from Tyler Herro, who has been terrific to start the season. The Bucks also need another guard to step up, especially with Ryan Rollins struggling after a strong season a year ago. Brayden Burries and Kasparas Jakucionis have shown flashes, but neither has been consistent enough yet to steady the offense when Herro sits.
Windisch still sees a better effort from Milwaukee than in some of its recent losses, but he expects Orlando to come away with the win thanks to home court and the overall talent gap between the teams.
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