NBA weekly betting trends: Milwaukee bucking the odds
By Jeff Glauser
The Milwaukee Bucks have been on a nice run lately, before running into the Memphis Grizzlies on Monday. But can it continue?
Most NBA observers wrote off the Jason Kidd’s squad, including yours truly here, when the Bucks lost burgeoning third-year star Jabari Parker to a torn ACL in early February. Parker was averaging a career-high 20.1 points and 6.2 rebounds and finally looked explosive after tearing the same ACL in his 2014-15 rookie season.
Yet improbably, the Bucks have been playing better since Parker was lost as they entered the week having won and covered six straight games. That surge has put Milwaukee into the eighth and final playoff spot in the Eastern Conference. Overall, however, the Bucks are still just 29-37 against the spread.
Defense has been the key ingredient for Milwaukee of late, holding five consecutive opponents to under 100 points before last night. And Khris Middleton—who made his season debut the same night Parker went down—is averaging 17.4 points over the same span and looking better by the game.
Meanwhile, second-round rookie Malcolm Brogdon is on the short list of Rookie of the Year candidates, leading all freshmen in assists (4.0) and three-point percentage (41.7). He also became the first Bucks rookie to post a triple-double and the only one in his class to do so thus far this season.
Next: Russell Westbrook triple-double watch
However, it all ultimately revolves around the dynamic Giannis Antetokounmpo. The Greek Freak is a fantasy league dream, posting career highs in practically every category, averaging 23.2 points, 8.6 rebounds, 5.5 assists, 1.8 steals and 1.9 blocks. No player has posted these averages for an entire season. The only players in league annals to lead their teams in all of those categories for a season are Dave Cowens (1977-78), Kevin Garnett (2002-03), LeBron James (2008-09) and Scottie Pippen (1994-95).
But don’t go betting Bucks futures to make the postseason just yet. Five of the victories during the winning streak were at home, and this week the Bucks begin a tough six-game road trip through the Western Conference. They are likely to be favored just twice, against teams with their finger firmly planted on the “tank” button: Friday at the Lost Angeles Lakers and next Wednesday at the Sacramento Kings.