Game Preview: Milwaukee Bucks at Philadelphia 76ers (Tues - 7:30 ET)
The major news update for this game is that Joel Embiid will join teammates Tobias Harris, Matisse Thybulle, and Isiah Joe on the COVID-19 list, so now 4 of the 6 top players on these teams will not be playing. Unfortunately for the 76ers, both active all-stars are on the Milwaukee Bucks as Giannis Antetokounmpo and Jrue Holiday are expected to play. The most highly publicized absence from this game is Ben Simmons, who now has been visited by a "team-recommended mental health clinician," as Simmons has been ostensibly trying to avoid fines by citing "mental health issues" as the reason for his continued absence and disfunction with the team. However, the root of the problem is that the 76ers head coach and star player both threw him under the bus for their second-round playoff exit last season. Then the 76ers were left without a plan B when they tried to trade him and asked for exorbitant compensation. Destigmatizing mental illness is a good thing, but star sports players citing mental health as means of forcing a trade to a preferred team in this new era of player empowerment is a concerning development that marginalizes the issue. This situation is ugly and unsustainable despite the 76ers strong start with role players like Furkan Korkmaz, Tyrese Maxey, and Seth Curry all stepping up.
The Milwaukee Bucks, on the other hand, continue to be the NBA's model franchise and standard for small-market team building. Yesterday, the Bucks visited the White House, where they were congratulated on last season's championship, and the Antetokounmpo brothers were lauded as examples of the immigrant's American dream. The Bucks continue to build a contending team by hitting on late draft picks and developing young players. They may have found themselves another second-round steal when they drafted Jordan Nwora 45th overall in the 2020 draft. Nwora shot 45.2% from 3 in his rookie season and is now adjusting to an expanded role with his minutes up to 22 per game from 9 last season. The Bucks also traded for Grayson Allen in the offseason, and he looks like a completely different player on his new team, as he raised all of his shooting metrics (FG%, 3PT%, FT%) from last season. The Bucks have been missing Khris Middleton and Jrue Holiday for many games to start the season, contributing to their 4-6 start. However, Holiday is back in the lineup, and they will be looking to get their season back on track against an undermanned 76ers team.
Spread: Bucks favored by 5.5 points
Over/under: 217.5
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