SPORTS LINE
Milwaukee Bucks.
Doc Rivers and the Milwaukee Bucks are beginning their second season together as they try to meet the expectations that have been placed on them. Especially after the franchise’s blockbuster acquisition of former Portland Trail Blazers star Damian Lillard. The Bucks will go as far as Antetokounmpo can take them, and as of now, he is focused on getting past the first round. On media day, Antetokounmpo was asked about the team’s title aspirations, and he kept it real, saying that they must focus on simply getting past the conference quarterfinals. Since the Bucks’ 2021 title, the Celtics eliminated them in the Eastern Conference Semifinals in 2022, the Miami Heat eliminated them in the first round in 2023, and the Indiana Pacers eliminated them in the first round last year. An area of concern in the Bucks’ preseason game is by guard Pat Connaughton. The NBA veteran is a solid piece on any rotation; however, this team will need its younger players to contribute this season. Rivers elected to play Connaughton a majority of the time with the starters when he could have allowed his developing players like Andre Jackson Jr. and rookie AJ Green to play in lineups that would likely see the court during the NBA regular season. A player like Jackson Jr could leap this upcoming season if allowed to perform in competitive games. Rookie AJ Green is also a player that the Bucks should find minutes for in a rotation because he has a lot of potential due to the intangibles that he possesses. Antetokounmpo has earned all the individual accolades; however, his next step is to add more titles to his belt. The others will need to step up in the process, but Milwaukee’s only concern is being healthy when the games start to matter in April. That’s the goal for everyone involved, especially for the Greek Freak.
The Green Bay Packers.
A big winning streak could be coming. Clark, Green Bay’s standout defensive tackle, believes these 2024 Packers could be on the cusp of a big run themselves after they dismantled Arizona, 34-13, on Sunday. The Packers have won two straight games and four of five to improve to 4-2 overall, which is 1 ½ games behind NFC North-leading Minnesota. Romeo Doubs wanted to make amends after serving a one-game suspension for what the Green Bay Packers described as conduct detrimental to the team. Doubs was suspended from the Packers’ 24-19 win over the Los Angeles Rams last week after missing two practices. Doubs responded by catching two of Jordan Love’s four touchdown passes Green Bay played its most complete game of the season, piling up 437 total yards, forcing three turnovers, and excelling on special teams. Love was terrific against the Cardinals, tying his career-high with four touchdown passes. He also completed 22-of-32 passes for 258 yards and had a passer rating of 119.5. Love completed passes to nine different players. And he became the first Green Bay quarterback to throw four touchdown passes in consecutive home games since Brett Favre did so in 1995. The Packers also dominated on the ground, piling up 179 rushing yards on 38 carries (4.7). That marked the fourth time this season that the Packers have rushed for 160-plus yards. RB Josh Jacobs had 62 of them on 18 carries, with RB Emanuel Wilson adding 54 on seven attempts. The Packers’ 1,003 rushing yards to date are their most in the first six games of a season since 1963 (1,041). Defensively, the Packers forced three fumbles and recovered them all. WR Romeo Doubs caught three passes for 49 yards and two scores, WR Christian Watson had three catches for 68 yards and a TD, and WR Jayden Reed had six catches for 28 yards
