Milwaukee Bucks to play without Bledsoe, Connaughton
The NBA is finally back, but several players who tested positive for COVID-19 are either sitting out or not available to play.
Milwaukee has the best record in the NBA before the re-start and is one of the favorites to win the NBA title. They don’t need to be at full strength for the first eight “seeding” games, considering they own a 6.5 game lead over second-place Toronto.
The Bucks will be without two key players for at least the first game as Erick Bledsoe and Pat Connaughton will miss Friday’s game against Boston.
Both players are working their way back and into game shape after testing positive for the coronavirus. They entered the bubble in Orlando late after clearing the NBA’s mandatory quarantine periods.
The Bucks finished 2-1 in their preseason playing without both players. Bledsoe averages 15.4 points and 5.4 assists on 34.8% three-point shooting. Connaughton adds 5.1 points and 4.2 rebounds off the bench. Both players are strong defensively to help a Bucks squad that ranks first in defensive efficiency. Last season, Bledsoe was named to the 2019 NBA All-Defensive First Team.
