Milwaukee, WI
The most glaring red flags in the Milwaukee Bucks’ 3-game losing streak
The Milwaukee Bucks began off the 2022/2023 season sturdy and jumped off the highest of the NBA standings. However not too long ago there have been a couple of ups and downs, and the Bucks are presently within the midst of a three-game dropping streak. It’s apparent that Milwaukee identical to any group has its weaknesses, and that is what they should give attention to to get again on monitor.
Lack of ball motion
The Bucks had been dominant on either side of the ground to begin the season. However ever since December fifteenth, they’ve dropped to twenty ninth in level differential, twenty ninth in offensive score, and thirtieth in defensive score.
When the sport slows down and there are performs to be made within the halfcourt, every part falls on Giannis Antetokounmpo to make one thing occur, whereas the 4 4 different guys on the court docket unfold the ground.
This has been an issue for years, and regardless that they improved a bit in that class, Milwaukee remains to be within the backside half of the league on the subject of passes and assists per recreation.
Shot making
Giannis’ utilization has been sky-high, rating third in all the NBA solely behind Luka Doncic and Ja Morant. The celebrity can also be getting double-teamed at a file charge, and being the keen passer he’s, Antetokounmpo has created plenty of attractiveness for his teammates. The one drawback is that they have not been knocking them down constantly.
A few of the important snipers on this group like Pat Connaughton (32.6%), Wesley Matthews (32.7%), and Joe Ingles (17.6%) have not been hitting the deep bombs at a excessive charge, as Grayson Allen has been the uncommon reliable shooter, making 40.2% of his three-point pictures.
Defensive decline
Protection has been the calling card of the Bucks for years, and this season has been no completely different, taking them to the highest of the standings. However not too long ago the efficiency on that aspect of the ground has been declining.
The emphasis on guarding the perimeter and limiting three-point pictures was extremely efficient to begin the season, however that has slowly fallen off to the outdated methods, rating nineteenth in opponents’ three-point proportion ever for the reason that December fifteenth mark.
Jrue Vacation and Jevon Carter are doing an admirable job, however they are going to want extra assist in the event that they wish to climb atop of the defensive rankings as soon as once more.
The decision
All of this sound very regarding and unhealthy, however that is solely a small pattern dimension of video games in a really lengthy season. Ups and downs occur, and the Bucks will solely be taught extra from the bumps within the highway.
In spite of everything, they’re nonetheless 22-11, with the second-best file within the NBA regardless of the area to grow to be even higher in these segments. If all these items fall collectively, Milwaukee would be the group to beat as soon as the Playoffs arrive.