The Milwaukee Bucks and Memphis Grizzlies meet Tuesday in NBA preseason action at the FedExForum. The Milwaukee Bucks enter the season as the defending champs after winning their first NBA title since the 1970-71 season. The Memphis Grizzlies won 38 games last season and enter the third year under coach Taylor Jenkins.
The Milwaukee Bucks say goodbye to P.J. Tucker, Bryn Forbes and Jeff Teague, but they bring in George Hill, Rodney Hood and Grayson Allen. The nucleus that made the Bucks champions returns, as Giannis Antetokounmpo, Khris Middleton, Jrue Holiday and Brook Lopez lead the way. Bobby Portis has become solid player off the bench and Pat Connaughton is coming off a season where he shot 37 percent from three. Donte DiVincenzo has also been cleared for camp and he’ll provide a major boost to this Bucks team. The Bucks are pretty much the same team they were a year ago and have to like their chances to make another run at an NBA title.
The Memphis Grizzlies young duo of Ja Morant and Dillon Brooks is now a year older and the expectations are starting to increase as they gain experience. The Grizzlies add Steven Adams for front court depth and Jarrett Culver to strengthen the bench. Ziaire Williams and Santi Aldama were both drafted in the top-30 and will be given every chance to for immediate playing time. The Grizzlies should also get a boost with the return of Jaren Jackson Jr., as he played just 11 games last season due to a left knee injury. There’s serious potential with these Grizzlies and they should be able to push for a middle seed in the West this season.
The Milwaukee Bucks are the better team on paper and would be favored if this was a regular season game, but they’re fresh off a title and this is a preseason opener. You’re likely not going to see the Bucks play a lot of key players. The Memphis Grizzlies on the other hand are young and still an up and coming squad eager to prove itself. We should see the Grizzlies care more about these sort of games.
Give me the Grizzlies and whatever the line is…