Preview: Pistons vs Bucks Game 2 Wednesday Night

MILWAUKEE, WI — After a 35-point smoke out by the Milwaukee Bucks in game one of the NBA Eastern Conference playoffs opening series, the Detroit Pistons are looking for answers to even the series Wednesday night in Milwaukee.

“Our whole approach has to be different,” Pistons Head Coach Dwayne Casey said in a Detroit Free Press report. “Nobody can (be allowed) to drive freely through our paint. There's got to be a block, a charge, something when a guy is driving coast-to-coast. There’s got to be a confrontation. Officials have to make a decision whether it’s a block or charge. But we’ve got to be there.”

Milwaukee star Giannis Antetokounmpo led the bucks with 24 points, 17 rebounds and four assists in barely 24 minutes in game one, and said he's going to stay aggressive as the Pistons search for ways to guard him. In an interview after game one, a reporter asked him whether he realized Pistons center Andre Drummond was conceding the outside shot in favor of guarding the basket against the Bucks' all-star forward.

"He's basically going to do whatever it takes to make me shoot that shot," he said. "There's going to be times when I shoot that shot, when I feel like it's going in. I'll always shoot it, but I'm going to drive as many times as I can. He's giving me so much space, I can create so many plays for my teammates."

The Pistons were without the services of forward Blake Griffin, who missed the opener with chronic left knee soreness. The Bucks won that game 121-86. Griffin's status for game two will likely be made really close to game time.

Game Info

Milwaukee Bucks (1-0) vs Detroit Pistons (0-1)
Wednesday, April 17, 2019
Fiserv Forum
Milwaukee, WI
7 p.m. CDT
Milwaukee leads best-of-seven series 1-0
TV: Fox Sports Wisconsin, NBATV

Tall Task

Milwaukee secured the best record in the NBA for the 2018-19 season, and has guaranteed home-court advantage for every playoff series they play in this season - including the NBA Finals should they make it that far.

According to ESPN Stats & Info, the Bucks accomplished this year's feat by regularly obliterating their opponents on the court: Milwaukee has won a staggering 45 games by 10 or more points. The Bucks are the eighth team with 45 double-digit wins in a season in NBA history. Each of the previous seven won the NBA title, according to ESPN.

Rod Beard of the Detroit News has five recommendations on what to switch up in game two. Most notably, Beard recommends starting sharpshooting forward Luke Kennard, who scored 21 points in the opening game.

He also wants to see the Pistons mix up their defensive coverage on Giannis after former Buck Thon Maker was ineffective guarding the Greek Freak in the opener. A little more of Andre Drummond may be part of the solution, but critics say he's also too slow-footed and may pick up a number of early fouls in the process.

The Series At A Glance

Game 1: Bucks 121, Pistons 86
Game 2: Pistons at Bucks, Wednesday, 7 p.m.
Game 3: Bucks at Pistons, Saturday, 7 p.m.
Game 4: Bucks at Pistons, Monday, 7 p.m.
*Game 5: Pistons at Bucks, Wednesday, April 24
*Game 6: Bucks at Pistons, Friday, April 26
*Game 7: Pistons at Bucks, Sunday, April 28
*If Necessary