No signings, no trades and no new reports touched the Bucks in the last day and a half, and the standings ended where they began, at 13th. What matters is health: Jim Owczarski of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel reported that every player practiced on October 30.
June 23
Taylor Jenkins's roster was put together on one day in June. Milwaukee sent Giannis Antetokounmpo and Bobby Portis to Miami for Tyler Herro, Jaime Jaquez Jr., Kel'el Ware and Kasparas Jakucionis, then drafted Brayden Burries 10th and Nate Ament 13th. Through five games, Herro carries the offense with 23.4 points and 47.2 percent shooting on threes. Jaquez adds 17.8 points and 7.2 rebounds.
October 26
The only win so far came against Indiana, 110-102, with Herro posting 23 points and 10 rebounds and Ryan Rollins scoring 19. Two nights later Houston won by 32 at Fiserv Forum. The power rankings had Milwaukee 21st on October 27 and 27th by October 30, the steepest weekly slide of this young season.
October 30
Owczarski reported that Jenkins said every player practiced and that no Buck had appeared on an injury report all season. That leaves rotation choices to the coaching staff, not the trainers. Pete Nance, on a two-way contract, has averaged 28.2 minutes across the last five games, and Owczarski wrote that the two-way players, Nance among them, will be part of the G League shuttle.
Tonight
Cleveland comes in at 3-2, playing its second straight road game with one day of rest to Milwaukee's two. Kenny Atkinson will be without Jaylon Tyson, sidelined by his right ankle, and Meleek Thomas carries a day-to-day tag for his foot. Donovan Mitchell averages 24.2 points and Evan Mobley 18.2. The number to watch is net rating: Cleveland at plus-0.3, Milwaukee at minus-10.6.
What comes next
Myles Turner is 26.6 minutes a night of defense with 6.6 points and 18.2 percent three-point shooting. Behind the Buck Pass argued that his defense is being overlooked. Against Jarrett Allen and Mobley, the question is whether Turner can hold the paint well enough that Milwaukee can live with his shooting.
Are any Bucks injured for the Cavaliers game?
No. Jenkins said every player practiced on October 30, and no Bucks player had been listed on an injury report this season.
When do the Bucks play the Celtics?
Milwaukee visits Boston on November 4 and hosts the Celtics on November 8.
