The Milwaukee Bucks are 5-5 in their last 10 games. After winning the Emirates NBA Cup in dominant fashion, the Bucks went 2-3 in their next five games, and they are slowly getting back in rhythm. Giannis Antetokounmpo is having an MVP-type season, and he is doing everything he can to keep the team afloat. With another double-double effort, Giannis passed Kareem Abdul-Jabbar for most in franchise history. After the game, the Greek Freak admitted the team hasn’t been playing with the same fire.
Giannis Admits – “We Took the Foot Off the Gas”
Following the win against the San Antonio Spurs, Giannis was asked what the Bucks could do to get back to the elite level they showed during the NBA Cup. With another double-double, Giannis now has a franchise-record 432, passing the legendary Abdul-Jabbar. After the game, he said,
“Just got to play together. We got to play together, we got to compete defensively. When we compete defensively we’re very hard to beat you know. I feel like after the cup, we kind of took the foot off the gas. We weren’t the same team, I think we were three and five in games after the Cup. We just got to keep getting back in rhythm.”
Giannis is a champion, and he knows what teams need to do to win it all. He hopes that the team understands it as well. He said,
“Gotta keep realizing what makes us great. When we compete as a team, you know, defensively, then offensively, we move the ball, we play with one another, we’re very hard to beat.”
What Went Wrong after the Cup?
The Milwaukee Bucks had to deal with injuries and inconsistency after their NBA Cup win. Antetokounmpo himself missed a few games, playing only once during a stretch the team went 2-3. Damian Lillard missed a few games as well, and the team lost its rhythm. Antetokounmpo has averaged a double-double this season, 31.3 points and 11.8 rebounds. He needs more from his teammates though.
Taurean Prince, who was great for them in October and November, came down to Earth and is now shooting 44.3% from behind the arc for the season. In October and November, he shot 54.2% from three-point range.
How Do the Bucks Turn Things Around?
The Milwaukee Bucks need consistency, and it seems like head coach Doc Rivers is making the necessary adjustment. He moved Khris Middleton to the bench, hoping to stabilize the bench unit. That allows Prince to have consistency, and try to get back to the elite shooting of previous months. More importantly, the Bucks need to be healthy.
Against the Spurs, they showed their dominant defensive effort. In the second quarter, the Bucks limited the Spurs to only 19 points. Yes, the Spurs rebounded with 32 and 27-point quarters, but the Bucks already held a huge lead. Antetokounmpo was at the forefront of their defensive effort. Doc Rivers also praised the effort after the game. He said,
“I told them at halftime, guys, back-to-back games, our defensive focus and attention to detail was on point. When we play like that, we’re really tough to beat.”
Can the Bucks Make a Trade to Improve their Roster?
The Bucks made their big trade acquisition in the summer of 2023 when they traded for Dame. This year, they are limited in what they can do in trades. The Bucks have only one first round and one second round pick to trade in 2031. With such limited draft capital, the Bucks are not really a team that can outbid others.
They also have Brook Lopez on a $23 million expiring contract, while Khris Middleton ($32 million) and Bobby Portis ($12.5 million) have player options next summer.
We have to note that the Bucks GM Jon Horst has been one of the most aggressive executives at the deadline in the past several years. The challenge is the team is over the second apron of $188 million. They cannot combine salaries, and can take back only the amount they send. The Bucks are trying, but it is a steep road.
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