They may be one of the top teams record-wise in the league right now, but the Milwaukee Bucks still need one key piece to stand a chance against the top teams, an analyst said.
Zach Lowe said that the Bucks need to bring in a dependable perimeter defender for them to be able to compete with the top dogs in the East.
Offense is not an issue
In one of the episodes of NBA on ESPN, Lowe explained that the Bucks are just doing just fine offensively even if Damian Lillard has not been shooting particularly well.
“This has been the best offensive team in the league for the last six weeks. Number 1, everyone’s like, 'What’s wrong with Damian Lillard, his shots are not falling.' Lillard is shooting 36.5 percent on threes. You know what? He shot..last season, 37.1 percent. Career, 37.2. His three-point shot is fine. His two-point shot has dipped a little bit, and I do think he and Giannis are kind of feeling out the right balance of power on offense, but Khris Middleton is starting to play like Khris Middleton again,” said Lowe.
Milwaukee’s defense needs a lot of fixing
While the offense isn’t a problem, Lowe sees a crucial aspect in the Bucks’ arsenal that has to be addressed if they are to achieve their title aspirations this season.
“The only question, and it’s a big one, is defense,” Lowe said.
Zach said Milwaukee has no problem defending the back line with Giannis Antetokounmpo and Brook Lopez in town. But the opposing team should not easily get past the first line of defense, something that the Bucks have not been able to do this season, Lowe pointed out.
“This team made its bones under Mike Budenholzer with defense and rebounding. They’re 20th in defense and 18th in defensive rebounding, and they’ve either got to get Crowder healthy and have MarJon Beauchamp and Andre Jackson Jr. fortify the defense on the wing, or they got to go out and search under the couch cushions for whatever they got left to trade and get one more guy that can be reliable on defense,” said Lowe.
Milwaukee may be enjoying some success now as it is second in the East with a 24-9 slate, but Zach warned that it will be a different situation in the playoffs.
“Because if they go into the playoffs with this defense and this offense, they can get far, but man, those top teams in the East are really, really good. But offense? Fine,” Lowe concluded.
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