Key Notes: Bucks, Pacers, Bulls, Smart, Beasley, Cunningham

Key Notes: Bucks, Pacers, Bulls, Smart, Beasley, Cunningham

The dollar I ruled out both Giannis Antetokounmpo And Damian Lillard for Monday’s game against Chicago due to a non-COVID illness, according to ESPN’s Jamal Collier.

According to Collier, several Milwaukee players and staff have been feeling ill since winning the NBA Cup Finals last Tuesday. Lillard missed two games over the weekend with a right calf injury and was previously doubtful to enter Monday’s game because of that ailment, while Antetokounmpo missed two games on Saturday and was questionable before Monday’s contest with back spasms.

In an unrelated story, Antetokounmpo admitted he doesn’t know why the Bucks aren’t playing on Christmas for the first time in seven seasons, Eric Nehm of The Athletic writes. The former Finals MVP said he was “a little upset or kind of questioned it” in part because 10 other teams received the invite while Milwaukee did not.

There has to be an algorithm because if it’s like, how shall I put it, a popularity contest, I can give you facts“Antetokounmpo said. “Do you want me to do it? Two of the NBA All-Star starters, Dame and Giannis, and the All-Star MVP, right? And the No. 1 voter — not in the East, not in the entire NBA — isn’t in the Christmas game? What? No, that’s a fact.

The votes took place last year. I was No. 1. Dame was a starter. I was a starter. Dame won the MVP. Checkers won the 3-point competition. Maybe that has nothing to do with it. I think we were one of the best teams in the East last year. Maybe not this year, OK. We don’t get a Christmas game. Why? Because we have a small market? Maybe that’s the case. Or I want to believe what I’m telling you: I believe that there is an algorithm in the NBA that chooses which team gets the most attention and the most viewers that day.”

While Antetokounmpo said he was “mad” that he wouldn’t be competing on a holiday day, he and many other Bucks also said they were happy to be able to spend the holidays with their families, according to Nehm.

Here’s more from the Central Division:

  • The Pacemaker dominated the Kings in Sacramento on Sunday en route to their fourth straight victory, writes Dustin Dopirak of The Indianapolis Star. Experienced point guard TJ McConnell said the team has never splintered in the face of adversity — Indiana has had a slow start to the season and is still just 14-15. “I really like that not everyone here hit the panic button while everyone else did” said McConnell. “I feel like last year people don’t realize that we were 14-14 at some point. Long season. Obviously we didn’t start the way we wanted. We had a few defeats but we are well trained. That’s what kept us together and we’re a really cohesive group. Here everyone is there for everyone. In the NBA, that’s all you can ask for.” According to Dopirak, many Pacers, including McConnell, realized there were injuries Andrew Nembhard, Ben Sheppard And Aaron Nesmith hurt the team. Nembhard and Sheppard have returned and improved the wing defense and attack spacing, while Nesmith remains out with an ankle injury. While it’s obviously a positive that the Pacers have rebounded, they will face a difficult schedule over the next four games – including a home game against Oklahoma City and Boston – Dopirak notes.
  • The Bulls have been better than expected so far and currently hold a record of 13-16. Starwatch Zach LaVine and head coach Billy Donovan have made it clear that the players and coaches have no plan to tank. That means the front office will play an important role if the team hopes to retain its top-10 protected first-round pick, and a source tells Joe Cowley of the Chicago Sun-Times, the director of basketball operations Arturas Karnisovas and GM Marc Eversley still have “complete autonomy” to make roster moves before the Feb. 6 trade deadline. Based on his wording, it is unclear who he is Grizzlies Might be interested in LaVine or Nikola Vucevicbut Cowley says Memphis would “love” to shed Marcus SmartThe former Defensive Player of the Year’s salary indicates he has played sporadic minutes recently. However, Cowley indicates that Chicago is unwilling to accept multi-year contracts unless it receives compensation in return – Smart will earn $20.2 million in 2024-25, followed by $21.6 million annually 2025/26. For what it’s worth, Vucevic is a near-perfect salary match ($20 million in 2024-25, $21.5 million in 25-26).
  • Malik Beasley is on the way to breaking that PistonsHis three-point record in a single season and his outside shooting have opened up driving and passing lanes for the reigning East Player of the Week Cade Cunninghamvia Omari Sankofa II of The Detroit Free Press. The Pistons have been very effective (+6.8) when the two players share the court together, Sankofa added. “It’s really just about understanding each other’s games and understanding where our places aresaid Cunningham. “We play so well against each other. He gives me so many opportunities to give myself an outlet whenever the guys throw more at me, and I think he loves playing with me because I let him do it. It’s just about building that relationship on and off the field and continuing to grow.” Beasley, 28, will be an unrestricted free agent next offseason after signing a one-year, $6 million deal with Detroit last summer.

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