Even if all the matches against the Hornets this season had ended in slaps (+31, +36 and +38), the most recent of which was only two days old, the Bucks knew to be careful when traveling to Charlotte. Perhaps Steve Clifford's men would have a reaction of pride.
But Milwaukee regained confidence and, with a controlled first period, logically won this game. And even before the meeting, the Hornets coach had little illusion.
“It's a veteran team, with a lot of talent, and they're starting to feel very good collectively. That's what I saw after the games against Minnesota and Philadelphia, and against us. They are preparing and their confidence level is high”, comments Steve Clifford.
It must be said that with four victories in four matches over the past week and the resumption after the All-Star Game, the Bucks are smiling. “When I took the job, I wasn't necessarily thinking about winning straight away or having success without being ready. It was all about being ready. This is what we see: urgency”notes Doc Rivers.
Almost two out of three baskets scored with an assist
After a rather strange first part of the season because it was rather satisfactory from an accounting point of view but with a change of coach and the impression that the machine of recent seasons is not as oiled as in the past, the 2021 champions know that it is time to accelerate.
“After the break, every match counts”insists Bobby Portis, who agrees with his coach. “We are reaching the point in the season where there are certain matches to be won. We look at the opponents, the Cavaliers, the Celtics, the Knicks, who are behind or in front, and we want to win as much as possible. Every possession and every game counts. We make more sacrifices, we are more focused, especially on the details. »
The symbol of this is the circulation of the ball. In these four successes in a row, 62% of the shots scored by the Bucks were after an assist (106/169).
“Giannis Antetokounmpo and Damian Lillard, but also Portis and Brook Lopez make the extra passes”rejoices Doc Rivers. “It becomes contagious”concludes Malik Beasley. “The players are happy to be near each other because they know that the passes will arrive. »
| Shots | Rebounds | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Players | MJ | Min | Shots | 3pts | L.F. | Off | Def | Early | Pd | Bp | Int | Ct | Party | Pts |
| Giannis Antetokounmpo | 57 | 34.9 | 61.6 | 27.6 | 65.8 | 2.5 | 8.7 | 11.2 | 6.3 | 3.5 | 1.3 | 1.0 | 2.9 | 30.7 |
| Damian Lillard | 54 | 34.8 | 42.5 | 34.4 | 92.5 | 0.5 | 3.8 | 4.4 | 6.8 | 2.6 | 1.1 | 0.2 | 1.8 | 24.5 |
| Khris Middleton | 43 | 26.3 | 48.7 | 37.8 | 83.2 | 0.6 | 3.7 | 4.3 | 5.0 | 2.1 | 0.9 | 0.3 | 2.4 | 14.8 |
| Bobby Portis | 59 | 23.8 | 49.9 | 39.1 | 79.3 | 1.6 | 5.2 | 6.9 | 1.1 | 1.0 | 0.7 | 0.4 | 2.4 | 12.9 |
| Brook Lopez | 56 | 31.4 | 48.1 | 34.0 | 83.9 | 1.5 | 3.9 | 5.5 | 1.6 | 0.9 | 0.6 | 2.7 | 2.5 | 12.8 |
| Malik Beasley | 57 | 29.6 | 47.1 | 45.0 | 64.0 | 0.6 | 3.2 | 3.9 | 1.4 | 0.7 | 0.8 | 0.1 | 2.1 | 11.5 |
| Jae Crowder | 28 | 25.0 | 43.2 | 35.6 | 66.7 | 0.5 | 3.2 | 3.7 | 1.6 | 0.5 | 0.8 | 0.2 | 1.6 | 6.6 |
| Cameron Payne | 47 | 14.9 | 45.5 | 39.7 | 84.1 | 0.1 | 1.2 | 1.3 | 2.3 | 0.7 | 0.5 | 0.1 | 1.6 | 6.2 |
| Pat Connaughton | 53 | 21.4 | 46.4 | 38.3 | 69.0 | 0.7 | 2.7 | 3.3 | 2.0 | 0.6 | 0.5 | 0.2 | 1.2 | 5.4 |
| Marjon Beauchamp | 42 | 13.8 | 48.7 | 40.0 | 67.9 | 0.5 | 1.7 | 2.3 | 0.7 | 0.6 | 0.3 | 0.1 | 1.2 | 4.6 |
| Aj Green | 38 | 9.3 | 44.1 | 42.3 | 100.0 | 0.2 | 0.9 | 1.0 | 0.6 | 0.1 | 0.1 | 0.1 | 0.9 | 4.4 |
| Patrick Beverly | 7 | 15.4 | 33.3 | 35.3 | 50.0 | 0.7 | 1.3 | 2.0 | 2.6 | 0.7 | 0.7 | 0.3 | 1.6 | 4.1 |
| Danilo Gallinari | 3 | 9.6 | 28.6 | 0.0 | 100.0 | 0.7 | 0.3 | 1.0 | 1.0 | 0.7 | 0.3 | 0.0 | 1.0 | 2.7 |
| Andre Jackson, Jr. | 46 | 10.8 | 52.9 | 37.5 | 72.7 | 0.8 | 1.2 | 2.0 | 0.9 | 0.5 | 0.3 | 0.1 | 1.8 | 2.5 |
| Lindell Wigginton | 3 | 2.5 | 40.0 | 0.0 | 100.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.3 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.3 | 2.0 |
| Robin Lopez | 16 | 4.0 | 36.8 | 25.0 | 100.0 | 0.2 | 0.1 | 0.3 | 0.3 | 0.1 | 0.1 | 0.2 | 0.4 | 1.1 |
| Chris Livingston | 16 | 4.3 | 43.8 | 33.3 | 100.0 | 0.1 | 0.8 | 0.9 | 0.3 | 0.3 | 0.1 | 0.0 | 0.7 | 1.1 |
| Thanasis Antetokounmpo | 25 | 4.9 | 50.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.2 | 0.2 | 0.4 | 0.5 | 0.4 | 0.1 | 0.2 | 0.8 | 1.0 |
| Tyty Washington, Jr. | 5 | 4.1 | 14.3 | 33.3 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.2 | 0.2 | 0.2 | 0.4 | 0.4 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.6 |
| Bolden Brands | 2 | 1.5 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 1.0 | 1.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.5 | 0.0 |
