Spurs vs. Bucks: 3 Big Things to Watch

The San Antonio Spurs will face their toughest opponent of the season when they march into Milwaukee to take on a Bucks team that owns the NBA's best record.

The San Antonio Spurs play the Milwaukee Bucks tonight at the Fiserv Forum in the second matchup of their four-game road trip. 

The Bucks own an NBA-best 51-20 record, are 21-5 against Western Conference opponents and have the third-fewest home losses across the league. Meanwhile, the Spurs are 1-9 in the second game of a back-to-back sets this season and are 6-28 on the road.

Here are three big things to keep an eye on for tonight's game...

Can the Spurs Breach the Bucks' Lines of Defense?

Having to deal with an elite Bucks perimeter defense is daunting. Having Defensive Player of the Year candidate Brook Lopez, and Giannis Antetokounmpo waiting in the paint hedges teams in on all sides most nights.

While San Antonio ranks No. 2 in the league with 55.9 points in the paint per game, they are up against a Bucks defense that commit the fewest personal fouls (18.2) and grab the most defensive rebounds (37.6) per game. Milwaukee are a disciplined unit that boast incredible length and use it to bother shots as well as deprive opponents of second-chance opportunities. 

With Khris Middleton back in the starting lineup, Keldon Johnson and company may have to look to floaters, runners and pull-up jump-shots from the midrange in order to make up for their poor three-point shooting output and counteract Milwaukee's all-world defense.

Stop Giannis, or Let Him Beat You?

Gone are the days where building a wall slows down the former two-time MVP. The Greek Freak does what he wants, when he wants and his game is unstoppable.

Antetokounmpo has scored under 20 points only seven times this year and is almost surefire to get his on offense. Therefore, coach Gregg Popovich will have to decide whether to double and trap him at every turn or play him straight up and take away his shooters.

Antetokounmpo does many things well. He favors corralling defensive rebounds and going the length of the floor looking for leak-outs. When Giannis gets a head of steam going downhill, he tends to leave his feet early and throw passes to the strong or weak side corners when his shot is unavailable. While his passes are oft unpredictable, being ready for his kick-outs will benefit the Spurs greatly.

Middleton and Jrue Holiday are All-Star caliber playmakers that can make up for a contained Greek Freak. San Antonio will have to adjust on the fly and take what coach Mike Budenholzer's offensive scheme gives them.

Assessing Young Talent to Keep

Win or lose, this game has no implications on the season for the Spurs. Things to build on in the offseason is the goal. Johnson, Devin Vassell and Jeremy Sochan have all shown what they've got this season. What about the supporting cast?

Romeo Langford was stuck in a crowded rotation with the Boston Celtics but has had 12 double-figure scoring games as a Spur, shooting above 50 percent in all but two of those contests. Can he live up to his draft prospects coming out of Indiana University?

Sandro Mamukelashvili, like Langford, came from a Milwaukee Bucks team that went 11-deep without him in the rotation. He's averaged 7.4 points, 6.4 rebounds and 1.3 three-pointers per game since joining the Spurs. 

Further, he's had 14 rebounds in 22 minutes against the Memphis Grizzlies last Friday, five assists against the Atlanta Hawks last Sunday and 18 points in a blowout loss to the New Orleans Pelicans last night. Is his 38.5 percent three-point clip sustainable in more than 19.8 minutes per game? Spurs fans should watch attentively for which players have a real future with the team moving forward.

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