Philadelphia 76ers vs Milwaukee Bucks 2/17/22: Starting Lineups, Matchup Preview, Betting Odds, Predictions
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Philadelphia 76ers vs. Milwaukee Bucks Matchup Preview (2/17/22)
After an atrocious, 50-point loss to the Boston Celtics in front of their home crowd, the Philadelphia 76ers head to the city of Milwaukee to go toe-to-toe with Giannis Antetokounmpo and the Bucks. Philly just made a huge splash at the trade deadline by acquiring James Harden and Paul Millsap in exchange for Ben Simmons, who has not played all season, Seth Curry, Andre Drummond, and a few first-rounders. Unfortunately, the loss of Curry and Drummond has already been felt by the Sixers as they were out-rebounded by 11 rebounds by Boston and shot merely 25% from behind the arc in that game, as well. This will be a tough matchup against Giannis and the Bucks.
Giannis Antetokounmpo just posted a massive 50-point game against the Indiana Pacers on unbelievable efficiency. Antetokounmpo shot merely 21 times and hit 17 of those shots. He looked like a three-level scorer for one of the first times ever: knocking down mid-range shots off the dribble, hitting the three, and obviously, finishing inside with ease and force. This Bucks team was on fire before dropping a road game to the Phoenix Suns. That negative momentum was carried to their next game against the Portland Trail Blazers but has since been corrected in a win against a Pacers team that shot the lights out. This game should be tight the whole way, so scroll down to look at the betting odds section where I detail the likely outcome!
Philadelphia 76ers vs. Milwaukee Bucks Betting Odds
This will be a close game, and Milwaukee being six-point favorites, is placed very well. I think the sportsbook may have slightly over-reacted to two things: the Giannis 50-point game and the Sixers’ 50-point loss. Still, this is close to where I would put the line at. I would have guessed a 4.5 point spread, but I understand being skeptical of Philadelphia after that pathetic performance against Boston. I like Milwaukee to grab this win as long as it defends the three-point line better than it did against the Pacers.
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How To Watch
Date: 2/17/22
Time: 8:30 PM ET
Arena: Fiserv Forum – Milwaukee, WI
Channel: TNT
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Philadelphia 76ers Starting Lineup
PG: Tyrese Maxey
SG: Danny Green
SF: Matisse Thybulle
PF: Tobias Harris
C: Joel Embiid
Philadelphia 76ers Analysis
What an absolute beatdown the Philadelphia 76ers just took in front of their home fans against the Boston Celtics. It is borderline inexcusable for an NBA team to lose by 50 points, regardless of their roster or who they are playing, much less for a team vying for a top spot in a competitive Eastern Conference! Philadelphia needs to right the ship immediately, and a road win against Milwaukee would undoubtedly make up for that home slaughter. The Celtics are unstoppable at the moment, but there’s a difference between losing and getting pummeled. Regardless, Joel Embiid has played like an MVP all season and should bounce back in this game. Additionally, Danny Green, Tobias Harris, Matisse Thybulle, and Tyrese Maxey should also play better. Expect a close game in this one!
Milwaukee Bucks Starting Lineup
PG: Jrue Holiday
SG: Grayson Allen
SF: Khris Middleton
PF: Bobby Portis
C: Giannis Antetokounmpo
Milwaukee Bucks Analysis
The Milwaukee Bucks are coming off a narrow home win against the Indiana Pacers, despite Giannis dropping 50 points. In theory, the Bucks should have blown the Pacers out by double-digits but played pretty poor defense on the perimeter, allowing Indiana to shoot 42% from deep. Milwaukee will need to correct this immediately, or solid shooting teams like Philly could give it problems long-term. This game will be an opportunity for the Bucks to get back on track defensively, but not an easy one by any means. The Sixers shoot close to 36% from deep on the season, but if Milwaukee can limit them there, then their chances are strong.
Philadelphia 76ers vs. Milwaukee Bucks Daily Fantasy Picks
Can Giannis go for back-to-back 50-point games? It’s unlikely; however, he has been playing so unbelievably well that I would not be shocked. In his last game against the Pacers, he not only had 50 points but also grabbed 14 rebounds and dished out four assists. Giannis posted 44 points, 14 rebounds, and eight assists two games prior. These are all-time numbers, and they are coming against some of the best athletes the world has ever seen. We may need to start a dialogue about where Giannis ranks all-time after leading the Bucks team to a championship last season. The Bucks were a strong team and had a great supporting cast, but there were other unbelievable teams in the league last season, too, like the Brooklyn Nets and Phoenix Suns.
Additionally, Giannis posted a 50-point game in the NBA Finals against the Suns, which is borderline unreal. If Giannis continues this play, he could win another MVP this season, and it will be games like this against another MVP front-runner where he can make his mark. If you can afford him and feel strongly that your supporting cast in DFS can keep up, then consider playing Giannis in your lineups!
If you decide to go with Giannis in DFS, you will not be able to afford Joel Embiid. Therefore, it may make more sense to go for a player like Tyrese Maxey to play alongside Giannis. Maxey has been terrific this season, exceeding expectations in every way for the Philadelphia 76ers. During a stretch of scarcity in their roster, whether it was due to COVID protocols or injury, Maxey was relied upon heavily to be a primary scorer. Now, that is not as much the case, but he still gets plenty of looks and significantly impacts the game. In his past 19 games, Maxey has averaged nearly 18 points, five assists, and four rebounds per game on a 48/44/85 shooting split. That is extremely impressive for a player regarded more for his athleticism and quickness; his future in this league is incredibly bright.
