The Bucks have lost two straight games after a win in Philadelphia on opening night.
Milwaukee Bucks: Concerns Mount After Slow Start
It’s safe to say this wasn’t the start of the season Doc Rivers envisioned for the Milwaukee Bucks. Fresh off a 115-102 loss to the Brooklyn Nets on Sunday, the Bucks have opened the season with a 1-2 record. This begs the question: what’s going on in Milwaukee?
This isn’t the first time the Bucks have struggled in recent years. They’ve faced first-round exits in the playoffs for the last two seasons and haven’t been able to replicate their title-winning season of 2020-21. While injuries have played a significant role, the Bucks are entering the 2024-25 season relatively healthy (minus Khris Middleton) following a full offseason under coach Doc Rivers. Yet, they’re still producing underwhelming results.
Defensive Struggles and Offensive Inconsistency
The Bucks struggled defensively in their 133-122 loss to the Chicago Bulls on Friday, allowing the Bulls to shoot 47.9% from the field and a staggering 44.7% from beyond the arc. They showed improvement defensively against the Nets, limiting them to “only” 115 points. However, their offensive execution was lacking. The Bucks shot just 30.3% from three-point range, a major factor in their loss.
The offensive metrics suggest the Bucks haven’t been as bad as their 1-2 record indicates. They rank sixth in the league in true shooting percentage, fourth in overall field goal percentage, and fifth in effective field goal percentage. They also rank ninth in opposing shooting percentage and 12th in opposing effective field goal percentage.
A Crucial Test Against the Celtics
Unfortunately for the Bucks, they face another title contender, the Boston Celtics, on the road this Monday (7:30 p.m. ET, NBA TV). The Celtics are undefeated through three games and averaging a victory margin of 16.3 points. This is a crucial game for the Bucks. They need to show they can compete with the best in the Eastern Conference. Giannis Antetokounmpo and Damian Lillard need to be at their best to match up with the star-studded Celtics roster. A 1-3 start is not what the Bucks were hoping for at the start of the season.
It’s early in the season, so there’s no need to panic. However, this game against the Celtics is a significant test. The Bucks need to prove they remain a contender in the Eastern Conference.