Torrible.
The combination of terrible and horrible put together. This was the Bucks performance Wednesday night in Detroit. The Bucks played a good first quarter and then the flood gates opened, on their way to a 110-87 loss. Now the team is reeling after its third consecutive loss, which puts them as the seventh seed in the playoffs, for now at least.
Milwaukee was punched hard with physicality, showing their need for a solid center (with girth). With both Henson and Maker, they possess length, but are so thin, Andre Drummond had a field day. There was one sequence where he gets five offensive rebounds, then eventually tips it in. Stats really don’t lie. The Buck’s were out-rebounded 57-35 and outscored in the paint 56-34. Detroit clearly showed their strong hand, just abusing length that can get pushed around too easily.
This is a trend I predict other teams will continue to expose. Almost every playoff team has a center that can carry his own. Most have one that can dominate the game from time to time. Relying on team length isn’t good enough when your opponent has 60 pounds on you. No, you get pushed around. A few times Henson would get tangled up with Drummond (who clearly was trying to bother him) and turned to the referee and complained. Come end of October you better be ready to engage in contact and physicality, whether you like it or not.
I saw a team that really didn’t want to be playing last night. I get that it’s the second game of a back-to-back, and you are on the road. But this is a team in Detroit that is hovering right about where Milwaukee is; this could have been a statement game. We all want to see more resiliency, and WAY more defense. When the shots aren’t falling, you need to pick up the defense not try less. Wake up Milwaukee.
On the bright side, there is normally a Giannis highlight and that remains the case in this one:
You can like The Game Haus on Facebook and follow us on Twitter for more sports and esports articles from great TGH writers!