The Charlotte Hornets and Milwaukee Bucks open their 2016-2017 NBA season against each other in a game scheduled on Wednesday, Oct. 26 at the BMO Harris Bradley Center in Milwaukee, Wisconsin.
Start Time and Streaming Info
The game starts at 8:00 p.m. ET. It can be viewed live online thru the NBA League Pass.
Preview
Charlotte has fairly improved this season with the addition of Roy Hibbert as the team's most probable starting center. Al Jefferson has moved to Indiana, but Hibbert is seen as an upgrade at the position, particularly on defense, as per Basketball Insiders.
Other significant losses for Charlotte are backcourt men Jeremy Lin and Courtney Lee, who signed with the Nets and Knicks respectively over the summer.
The Hornets, however, still has starting point guard Kemba Walker, who the team is building around. Walker's backup this season will be veteran Ramon Sessions.
With other starters Nicolas Batum, Marvin Williams, and Michael Kidd-Gilchrist all healthy to begin the season, head coach Steve Clifford might feel optimistic about their chances this year.
Charlotte has a thin bench at the moment, especially that last year's ninth overall pick Frank Kaminsky is out with an injury. Cody Zeller, Marco Belinelli, and Jeremy Lamb will put much-needed stability in their second unit, but overall the expectations are not high for Clifford's team.
Meanwhile, the Bucks still has Greg Monroe despite all the trade rumors linking him to other teams this summer. However, the former Georgetown standout is not expected to start for head coach Jason Kidd as his style of play is reportedly more fit with the team's second unit.
Milwaukee has added champion point guard Matthew Dellavedova from the Cavs plus veteran combo guard Jason Terry as insurance off the bench. The team has also traded ex-starter Michael Carter-Williams to the Bulls for Tony Snell, which somehow stabilized their backcourt.
The young and athletic core of Giannis Antetokounmpo, Jabari Parker, and Miles Plumlee will be tested this season with Monroe stepping back. Having Dellavedova and Snell as starters will make the Bucks one of the strongest defensive units in the league aside from one of the fastest, according to Sports Chat Place.
Prediction
Milwaukee for the win by two or three possessions. The Hornets will try to keep up but they will fall short because of lack of effective bench play.
