“I took notes on what I didn’t like. But I can't share it with you. » This is what Doc Rivers said the day before after the Bucks' surprise defeat against the Wizards, and we imagine that tonight, his notebook is full! At home, Giannis Antetokounmpo's teammates lost 111-101 to the Grizzlies, 90% of whose team should play in the G-League.
A logical defeat since the Bucks, still deprived of Damian Lillard, but also of Khris Middleton, took the match from the wrong end, unable to come out on Luke Kennard or Lamar Stevens, or to slow down the energetic Jaren Jackson Jr. Only Brook Lopez is inspired in attack, and the Grizzlies take advantage of it to take the first quarter (26-22).
Giannis and Bobby Portis get angry, but it lacks bonding. Opposite, Stevens is too easy at 4/5 meters, and the returning Brandon Clarke brings all his energy. There's a real contrast between the hard-hitting Grizzlies and the Bucks who can't run. Result, at the break, the gap remains the same: 53-49.
“Open doors” operation
The 3rd quarter is a copy and paste of the 2nd. Giannis takes charge, supported by shooters Malik Beasley and Pat Connaughton. In five minutes, the Bucks slammed their fists on the table to take a 10-point lead (67-57)! We tell ourselves that the break is over, and that they will easily manage the last twenty minutes. Except that they take their foot off the accelerator, and above all they open the doors of the racket wide… Brook Lopez is again eaten by “JJJ” under the circle, and in three minutes, the Grizzlies take back control (73- 70)!
The 4th quarter looks like two drops of water from the previous ones. It's Malik Beasley who gives the Bucks the advantage, and Giannis goes looking for shots. And the Grizzlies, as carefree as ever, respond with a 9-0 to knock out the match! Once again, it is in the paint that Memphis dominates, and Jackson Jr finds in Jordan Goodwin, forgotten on the rebound, the ideal Lieutenant to snatch taps and even the And-1. Doc Rivers waits until the last ten seconds to take out the exhausted Giannis, and the Bucks bow miserably to their audience.
WHAT YOU MUST REMEMBER
– “Tanking” among the Bucks? What if the Bucks didn’t want this 2nd place to avoid playing against the winner of the “play-in” between 7th and 8th in their conference? Obviously, we don't believe it, and it's hard to imagine Giannis Antetokounmpo losing on purpose, but it is clear that slowly, but surely, Milwaukee finds itself under threat from the Cavaliers, but also from the Magic and the Knicks.
– 76-36. It's the score in the racket! The Grizzlies scored 76 points in the Bucks' racket, and the absences of Damian Lillard and Khris Middleton cannot justify this disaster. Patiently, the Grizzlies simply sought to serve Jackson Jr in the low post, and the former All-Star had fun facing Lopez and Portis.
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How to read the stats? Min = Minutes; Shots = Successful shots / Attempted shots; 3pts = 3-points / 3-points attempted; LF = free throws made / free throws attempted; O = offensive rebound; D=defensive rebound; T = Total rebounds; Pd = assists; Fte: Personal fouls; Int = Intercepts; Bp = Lost balls; Ct: Against; +/- = Point differential when the player is on the field; Pts = Points; Eval: player evaluation calculated from positive actions – negative actions.
