Jul 11, 2021; Milwaukee, Wisconsin, USA; Milwaukee Bucks forward Thanasis Antetokounmpo (43) grabs a rebound against the Phoenix Suns during game three of the 2021 NBA Finals at Fiserv Forum. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports
3 keys behind the Milwaukee Bucks recent win streak: Controlling the glass
Just like any other sport, basketball has elements that will always impact the final outcome no matter how much the game has evolved. One of those elements is rebounding.
If a team wins the battle of the boards, they are increasing their own offensive opportunities while simultaneously limiting the shot attempts of their opponents. Therefore, crashing the glass and winning the rebounding battle is a sure-fire way to give your team a clear advantage.
On their way to beating the Charlotte Hornets, Miami Heat, Chicago Bulls, and Phoenix Suns, Milwaukee outpaced their opponents by a combined 53 rebounds. That type of effort on the glass is exactly what they’re going to need once the postseason rolls around.
The Brooklyn Nets have one of the best rebounders in the league in Andre Drummond. The Miami Heat feature Bam Adebayo, who is great at banging bodies in the paint. The rumor mill seems to indicate that former rebounding champion DeAndre Jordan will soon be joining Joel Embiid in Philadelphia. With all those big bodies in the East, rebounding will be essential going forward.
Bobby Portis’ playing style has been compared to that of Dennis Rodman during his days as a member of the “Bad Boy” Detroit Pistons. Not only was “The Worm” an elite hustle player, but during his tenure in Detroit, he began leading the league in rebounds.
Portis is a guy who’s capable of grabbing double-digit rebounds in a key playoff game. If he’s able to continue helping his team win the battle of the boards, Milwaukee may very well be on their way back to the Finals.
Milwaukee Bucks’ current four-game win streak. If the playoffs were to start today, the Bucks would be the 3rd seed in the Eastern Conference. That means they would have homecourt advantage in the first round.</p>
<p>Not so long ago, they were on the outside of the top four looking in, hoping to crack the barrier between starting the postseason at home versus starting on the road. With the help of their current hot streak, the team is back in the driver’s seat and in control of their own destiny. The third seed is theirs to lose and they have a realistic shot at finishing as high as second.</p>
<h2>The Milwaukee Bucks are peaking at the right time. The team is on a four-game win streak and looks poised for another title run.</h2>
<p>The reason all of this matters is that making it out of the Eastern Conference this year will be as hard as ever. Sure, the Brooklyn Nets don’t have a great record, but the return of Kevin Durant and the impending debut of Ben Simmons means they are a team no one wants to face in a seven-game series.</p>
<p>Joel Embiid is playing at an MVP level and he’s recently been joined by superstar James Harden. Not to mention, the Miami Heat and the Chicago Bulls are both dangerous as well. For Milwaukee, returning to the Finals will not be easy, but securing homecourt advantage in the first round will make the task less daunting.</p>
<p>Other than <a href=https://hoopshabit.com/2022/03/07/keys-milwaukee-bucks-streak/2/"https://www.nba.com/bucks/news/milwaukee-bucks-acquire-serge-ibaka-los-angeles-clippers-four-team-trade" target="_blank" rel="noopener">acquiring Serge Ibaka</a>, Milwaukee has not made any major roster changes since the start of the season. With the same personnel on the floor that they’ve had all year, there must be another explanation as to why the team is playing some of its best basketball as of late. Let’s take a closer look at the reasons behind their current win streak.</p>
<div class="next-slide slider"> <a class="next-slide-btn" style="background:#222423" data-track="shortcode" data-track-action="next-slide-shortcode" href=https://hoopshabit.com/2022/03/07/keys-milwaukee-bucks-streak/2/"#"> <span class="title">Next:</span> Controlling the glass </a>
</div><!—pageview_candidate—><hr id="pagebreak"><div id="attachment_434829" class="wp-caption aligncenter">
<a href=https://hoopshabit.com/2022/03/07/keys-milwaukee-bucks-streak/2/"http://hoopshabit.com/wp-content/uploads/imagn-images/2018/08/16396189.jpeg">
<span class="call_to_action">Next:</span> NBA Power Rankings Week 20 </a> </div>
</div><!—pageview_candidate—>">