Bucks, Nets collide in heavyweights matchup
The Milwaukee Bucks will host the Brooklyn Nets at Fiserv Forum on Tuesday evening.
The Bucks went all the way during the 2020-21 NBA season, as they won the title led by the play of names such as Giannis Antetokounmpo and Khris Middleton but also showing excellent depth and timely execution when it mattered the most. Milwaukee defeated the Phoenix Suns in the 2021 NBA Finals, and the expectations are lofty once again considering their roster for the upcoming season is mostly unchanged. The Bucks missed two important role players in PJ Tucker and Bryn Forbes, but they added some notable pieces in George Hill, Grayson Allen and Rodney Hood. It wouldn't be a stretch to say the Bucks are deep at all five positions and could easily play a 10-man rotation on most nights.
The Nets have been involved in lots of controversial situations this offseason and while they won't have Kyrie Irving for the foreseeable future, they should still have one of the deepest rosters in The Association. They retained Blake Griffin and Bruce Brown, LaMarcus Aldridge is coming back, and they found a way to add Patty Mills into the mix. The Nets have also added defensive-minded pieces that should fit quite well into the roster, most notably Jevon Carter and James Johnson. The Nets already came close to reaching the NBA Finals last season, and if anything, they should be a true contender in the Eastern Conference once again.
These two teams played three times during the 2020-21 regular season, and the Bucks won that matchup 2-1. Milwaukee also defeated Brooklyn, 4-3, in the Eastern Conference Semifinals.
The Bucks went all the way during the 2020-21 NBA season, as they won the title led by the play of names such as Giannis Antetokounmpo and Khris Middleton but also showing excellent depth and timely execution when it mattered the most. Milwaukee defeated the Phoenix Suns in the 2021 NBA Finals, and the expectations are lofty once again considering their roster for the upcoming season is mostly unchanged. The Bucks missed two important role players in PJ Tucker and Bryn Forbes, but they added some notable pieces in George Hill, Grayson Allen and Rodney Hood. It wouldn't be a stretch to say the Bucks are deep at all five positions and could easily play a 10-man rotation on most nights.
The Nets have been involved in lots of controversial situations this offseason and while they won't have Kyrie Irving for the foreseeable future, they should still have one of the deepest rosters in The Association. They retained Blake Griffin and Bruce Brown, LaMarcus Aldridge is coming back, and they found a way to add Patty Mills into the mix. The Nets have also added defensive-minded pieces that should fit quite well into the roster, most notably Jevon Carter and James Johnson. The Nets already came close to reaching the NBA Finals last season, and if anything, they should be a true contender in the Eastern Conference once again.
These two teams played three times during the 2020-21 regular season, and the Bucks won that matchup 2-1. Milwaukee also defeated Brooklyn, 4-3, in the Eastern Conference Semifinals.
Lakers Host Warriors in Opener
The Los Angeles Lakers play host to the Golden State Warriors at Staples Center on Tuesday.
Los Angeles had one of their most disappointing seasons last year, but reinforcements are on their way. While they only made one splashy move in the offseason, they added some much-needed depth. In fact, they acquired Russell Westbrook, Dwight Howard, DeAndre Jordan, Carmelo Anthony, and Kendrick Nunn. That might not sound like anything special in 2021, but it gives them the depth they've been craving ever since they acquired LeBron James and Anthony Davis. The only question mark is the fact that they have to fill the Dennis Schroder void. He was one of the best players on this roster last season, and it'll be up to these new guys to fill that void, particularly Westbrook.
The Warriors got into the play-in game last season, but that was as far as Stephen Curry could take them. The former MVP had one of the best seasons of his career, but this team is outmatched without Klay Thompson and Kevin Durant. The good news is that Thompson should be back in the next few months, and it'll give this club a dynamic they've been desperately missing for two years. The guy who's being tasked to fill that void is Jordan Poole, and if the preseason is any indication, he should do just fine. He was one of the league's leading scorers with 22 points per game. That's tough to accomplish, considering he played fewer than 23 minutes a night, making him a prime candidate as a breakout for this club.
Los Angeles won the season series over Golden State, 2-1, last year and have prevailed in five of their previous six meetings in total.
Los Angeles had one of their most disappointing seasons last year, but reinforcements are on their way. While they only made one splashy move in the offseason, they added some much-needed depth. In fact, they acquired Russell Westbrook, Dwight Howard, DeAndre Jordan, Carmelo Anthony, and Kendrick Nunn. That might not sound like anything special in 2021, but it gives them the depth they've been craving ever since they acquired LeBron James and Anthony Davis. The only question mark is the fact that they have to fill the Dennis Schroder void. He was one of the best players on this roster last season, and it'll be up to these new guys to fill that void, particularly Westbrook.
The Warriors got into the play-in game last season, but that was as far as Stephen Curry could take them. The former MVP had one of the best seasons of his career, but this team is outmatched without Klay Thompson and Kevin Durant. The good news is that Thompson should be back in the next few months, and it'll give this club a dynamic they've been desperately missing for two years. The guy who's being tasked to fill that void is Jordan Poole, and if the preseason is any indication, he should do just fine. He was one of the league's leading scorers with 22 points per game. That's tough to accomplish, considering he played fewer than 23 minutes a night, making him a prime candidate as a breakout for this club.
Los Angeles won the season series over Golden State, 2-1, last year and have prevailed in five of their previous six meetings in total.