We were awaiting a response from the Bucks after Giannis Antetokounmpo's alert following the defeat in Houston. At home, against Utah, we found a Milwaukee team totally overwhelmed.
Adrian Griffin's men were up to 33 points behind in the second quarter and were still at -31 (77-46) at the break. The boos descended from the Fiserv Forum and, after the match, logically lost despite a better second half, Giannis Antetokounmpo understood the fans.
“Damn, I would have booed myself tonight”
“At the end of the day, you have to play hard”, recalled the “Greek Freak”. “I don't think it's about making or missing shots. It’s about making the necessary efforts on the ground. When you don't do it, people feel it. When you wear the Bucks jersey, and not just the Bucks jersey, any jersey, and you don't play hard, and we have great fans, but throughout the league, if you don't play hard, it Sometimes you get booed. Shit, I would have booed myself tonight.”
Adrian Griffin explains for his part that he showed more videos than usual to his players at half-time, and the coach appreciated seeing his players fight to come back in the second half.
Nevertheless, and even if Milwaukee (25 wins – 12 losses) remains in 2nd place in the Eastern Conference, this fourth defeat in five games is cause for concern in Wisconsin. Giannis Antetokounmpo always says that the important thing in the regular season is to create good habits, and that is clearly not the case…
“It’s not just the defense. It's the whole thing. Offense, defense, every little thing counts. This is how you build a culture of victory. If you only care about the outcome of each match, if you expect to be on the winning side at the end of the match, it doesn't work that way. »
Vulnerable drop coverage with a struggling first curtain
Two days ago, the double MVP appealed to the pride of the entire club. Giannis Antetokounmpo had thus detailed all the problems, between a lack of strategic clarity and a complicated balance between slow-moving veterans and young volunteers who make a lot of mistakes.
Damian Lillard wasn't there last night, but the Bucks' limitations stood out again. This is because the “drop coverage” in which Brook Lopez is useful becomes vulnerable if the first curtain leaves boulevards. Which is often the case with Malik Beasley who is systematically attacked by opposing attackers. The back is not the only cause of Milwaukee's problems, but it is undoubtedly the clearest symbol.
“We can’t crash into screens”, had demanded Giannis Antetokounmpo after the last match, without mentioning anyone. “We crash into opposing screens. Me included. I'm not trying to blame anyone in particular. That’s why I keep saying “including me.” Always. It starts with me. I am the leader of the team. It always starts with me. I have to be better, but we can't crash into screens. What does that mean, because Bobby (Portis) and Brook (Lopez) are behind, what does that mean? That we're going to crash into screens and let the guy attack, shoot a floater because Brook is going to save our asses? Is this how we’re going to win a title? No, that's not how you're going to win a championship. »
Right now, that’s not even how the Bucks are going to win games…
