9 hours Ago By Reign Amurao, Hardwood Heroics
The Milwaukee Bucks have had a poor start to the 2024–25 NBA season as they have battled to establish themselves. This season, the Bucks have improved slightly from their 1-6 start to 5-9. Former NBA player Richard Jefferson addressed the problem the organization should look to fix soon.
According to Jefferson, Milwaukee’s defense hasn’t been strong this season. The Bucks are ranked 16th in the league with a defense rating of 112.7.
However, the team was placed fourth two seasons ago with a defensive rating of 110.9. According to the 2016 champion, the Bucks aren’t a championship team because they haven’t discovered their defensive identity.
“They have to figure out their identity,” Jefferson said. “For the years they were most successful, they were a top five defensive team..
. their level of consistency throughout the regular season, that got Giannis two MVPs, that got him a Defensive Player of the Year. The stats are still there, but the wins aren’t, they don’t look right.
” “When I look at the Bucks, I feel like people ask, ‘How do they get to championship contenders?’ In my mind, they’ve got a long way to go before we start talking about them as championship contenders because there’s steps that you have to follow.” The Bucks have started to pick up the pace this season. In their last five games, they’ve had a 3-2 record and Giannis Antetokounmpo gets most of the credit.
He’s averaging 33.4 points, 11.8 rebounds and 7.
0 assists during that span, scoring over 40 points twice. Antetokounmpo’s 41-point effort gives the Milwaukee Bucks their sixth win of the year The Milwaukee Bucks have gradually picked up the pace this season and won their Wednesday game against the Chicago Bulls, 122-106. Antetokounmpo was excellent in the contest and finished the game with 41 points, nine rebounds and eight assists.
His All-Star teammate, Damian Lillard, scored 20 points and dished 20 assists for the Bucks. Kendrick Perkins of ESPN praised the Greek Freak’s recent performance on X (previously Twitter). “It’s not just want Giannis is doing but it’s how he’s doing it.
.. just might be the most dominant offensive performance I’ve seen this season.
Just straight tomato chest and Daddy ball in the paint. My God,” Perkins posted. It’s not just want Giannis is doing but it’s how he’s doing it.
.. just might be the most dominant offensive performance I’ve seen this season.
Just straight tomato chest and Daddy ball in the paint. My God — Kendrick Perkins (@KendrickPerkins) November 21, 2024 Giannis’ statement game gave the Bucks the lead late in the first quarter. Milwaukee didn’t look back and never gave up the lead.
His teammates, Brook Lopez and AJ Green made contributions that pushed the Milwaukee Bucks’ lead. Lopez had a 21-point and five-rebound night, while Green scored 18 points off the bench. This article first appeared on Hardwood Heroics and was syndicated with permission.
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