Saturday has a limited slate of games to choose from, and none are particularly meaningful. That doesn’t mean that there aren’t interesting storylines. At this point of the season — the very end — there are always storylines to be found. This game is going to be almost unwatchable. However, if you can get past that, it provides a good psychological puzzle to keep bettors interested.

The Bucks are heading to the playoffs. Technically they still have a chance to move up to seventh place ahead of Boston, but they are three games back with four to play, so that’s not going to happen. Once they do make the playoffs they are going to get crushed lifeless by the Heat in short order — and even the most delusional Milwaukee fan knows it. Will the team be motivated to get into the best form they can now so they have the best chance they can be in for the big series? Will they be resting up to be fresh for the playoffs? Or will the team, which isn’t the most mentally tough squad at the best of times, just quit because they are resigned to their fate and because the team is going to look quite different next year? Like I said, it’s a fun puzzle.

Bucks at Bobcats Betting Storylines

Both of these teams are coming off of Friday night games, and both teams have to travel between games. Charlotte returns home from Detroit, while Milwaukee was in Atlanta. The Bucks aren’t a great team in the second half of back-to-back games — they are just 9-11. Of course, that’s a .450 win percentage, and that’s just below the .474 the team has compiled on the whole season, so there is no real reason to factor in the schedule here. Charlotte, meanwhile, is a hideous 3-17 in these situations, which is bad even for a team as bad as Charlotte is. Even worse, they were 3-1 through the first four attempts, so they have lost the second game in these situations 16 straight times.

The Bucks are the better team in this one, but it is hard to know what their team is going to look like when they step onto the court. On Friday night starters Brandon Jennings and Larry Sanders both took the night off to rest their bodies. Jennings is dealing with a sore Achilles, and Sanders has been dealing with back issues. As I write this it’s not clear what their status will be on Saturday, but it is definitely a situation to keep an eye on. It would be easy to overreact if they are both out again, though. While depth is obviously affected, the team has viable alternative starting options for both guys. J.J. Redick can easily step in for Jennings. John Henson had an incredible game on Wednesday — 17 points, 25 rebounds and seven blocks against Orlando. At this point he could benefit from the extra playing time to see how much of a fluke that game was.

The Bobcats have an injury situation of their own, but it’s not that much of a concern given recent history. Byron Mullens has played about 27 minutes a game this year and has been decent. He’s had real issues staying on the court lately, though. He missed five games due to an ankle injury before returning last Saturday in Brooklyn. He lasted just four minutes before going down with an elbow injury. It doesn’t appear to be serious, but it has kept him out of some action already and could again here. The team is just 1-6 since he got hurt, but you can hardly blame that just on Mullens — this team has issues everywhere.

Want a bright side for the Bobcats? They are 5-2 in their last seven home games. That’s solid no matter what and especially so considering they are just 12-26 at home overall. They have certainly benefited from the generosity of the schedule-maker — they have beaten Washington, Toronto, Philadelphia and Orlando, so they haven’t been the most stellar wins — but it’s still something positive for a team that hasn’t had much of that since November.

Bucks at Bobcats NBA Odds and Betting Trends

BookMaker has opened Milwaukee as a 3.5-point favorite, and the total has been posted at 201.5

Heading into Friday night the Bucks were 0-7 ATS in their last seven road games and had gone under in five of the last six. Charlotte doesn’t like home cooking that much — they are 0-7 ATS in the first game home following a road trip of at least a week. Five of the last six meetings between these teams have gone “over” the total.

Bucks at Bobcats Picks and Betting Predictions

I don’t trust or respect this Milwaukee team. I can’t overlook them here, though. Despite playing at home, Charlotte just isn’t very good right now. Milwaukee beat them by 29 on April 1, and even shorthanded they have the chance to win handily again here. Milwaukee can’t let off the gas entirely because the playoffs loom, while Charlotte has nothing at all to play for. Milwaukee is the pick.

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