Bucks’ Defensive Resurgence: How Doc Rivers Plans to Elevate Milwaukee’s Lockdown Mentality.
September 12, 202.
As the Milwaukee Bucks gear up for the 2024-25 NBA season, all eyes are on head coach Doc Rivers and his plan to revamp the team’s defensive identity. Known for his defensive-minded coaching approach, Rivers is expected to place a strong emphasis on team defense this upcoming year.
Rivers has long been renowned for valuing key defensive principles such as strong perimeter defense, rim protection, and effective communication. However, the Bucks’ defensive struggles last season have prompted the need for a resurgence in this crucial aspect of their game.
Healthy Roster, Healthy Defense.
Fortunately, the Bucks appear poised to bounce back on the defensive end, thanks to two key factors. Firstly, the team is set to field a fully healthy roster of their returning core players, including the versatile Giannis Antetokounmpo and the elite shot-blocker Brook Lopez.
Under Rivers’ guidance, the Bucks may enhance their defense by implementing a more disciplined system, utilizing effective switching tactics, and employing aggressive closeouts. Expect a renewed focus on defensive rotations and minimizing open looks for opponents, particularly from the 3-point line – a long-standing defensive principle for Rivers.
Crucially, Rivers’ ability to get his veteran players to fully buy into the defensive system will be paramount, as the Bucks aim to build upon their established defensive identity while seamlessly integrating new additions to the roster. However, the team’s health will be the ultimate determining factor, as consecutive first-round playoff exits in the past two seasons have been directly linked to key injuries.
Bolstering the Defensive Bench.
The second factor contributing to the Bucks’ defensive resurgence is the team’s offseason roster moves, which have significantly strengthened their bench and added versatility to their defensive rotations.
The signing of Gary Trent Jr. has brought in a strong perimeter defender who can pressure opposing ball-handlers, force turnovers, and disrupt passing lanes. Delon Wright, known as the “King of Deflections,” will provide the Bucks with a much-improved guard defender off the bench, adding versatility and the ability to thrive in various lineup combinations.
Furthermore, the addition of Taurean Prince has addressed the team’s need for a younger, more athletic wing defender to complement the aging Khris Middleton, whose defensive abilities have declined in recent years. Prince’s above-average defensive skills and versatility will give the Bucks more options when dealing with penetrating guards, a weakness that plagued them last season.
A Renewed Defensive Identity.
The Milwaukee Bucks have clearly made a concerted effort to address their defensive concerns from the previous season. With a fully healthy roster, a full training camp to implement Rivers’ defensive system, and the acquisition of quality defensive role players, the team appears poised to reclaim their identity as a formidable defensive unit.
As the 2024-25 season approaches, Bucks fans can expect to see a renewed emphasis on team defense, with Rivers’ proven track record and the team’s improved roster depth serving as the foundation for a defensive resurgence. The stage is set for the Bucks to bounce back and solidify their status as one of the league’s premier defensive teams.
1 Stat shows Bucks’ Doc Rivers must get uncomfortable in his decision-making.
As one of the older teams in the NBA over the past few years, the Milwaukee Bucks have lacked the athleticism, explosiveness, and youthful energy that is becoming increasingly important in today’s league. This deficiency was painfully evident in last season’s playoff loss to a much younger and more energetic Indiana Pacers squad, as the Bucks’ veteran players struggled to keep up.
In a league where the new generation of athletic freaks is quickly taking over, the Bucks need to address their lack of athleticism if they want to avoid being left behind. One telling statistic that highlights this flaw is the fact that only two Bucks players had at least 25 dunks last season – Giannis Antetokounmpo and Brook Lopez. Outside of the Greek Freak, the Bucks roster lacks the type of high-flying, explosive athletes that can provide a spark and energy boost.
While the Bucks’ offseason additions of Delon Wright, Taurean Prince, and Gary Trent Jr. will help in other areas, they don’t necessarily bring the type of athleticism and dunking prowess that the team desperately needs. Fortunately, the Bucks may already have some youthful, athletic options on their roster, such as Andre Jackson Jr. and MarJon Beauchamp, who showed flashes of their leaping ability last season.
Head coach Doc Rivers may need to consider giving more playing time to these younger, more athletic players, even if it means deviating from his typical veteran-oriented rotation. Experience is valuable, but the Bucks also need the energy, burst, and ability to keep up with the league’s rising crop of athletic superstars. Implementing a more youth-oriented approach could be the key to the Bucks regaining their competitive edge and avoiding being left behind in the NBA’s ever-evolving landscape.
Projecting the Milwaukee Bucks’ ideal bench lineup in 2024-25.
It goes without saying that the Milwaukee Bucks’ success this coming season will primarily hinge on the performance of their starting five. However, they will also need consistent production and contributions from their bench unit if they want to reach their ultimate goal of winning another championship.
Last season, the Bucks’ bench had some positives, such as ranking 7th in 3-point percentage and 10th in rebounds per game. But they also struggled in key areas, ranking 19th in points and 23rd in assists per game. The Bucks need more reliable and consistent production from their reserves to alleviate the heavy workload on their superstar players.
With a retooled roster, head coach Doc Rivers will have plenty of talent to choose from when selecting his bench unit. There are five reserves who stand out and should be given meaningful roles this coming season due to their unique skill sets:
1. Point Guard: Delon Wright
Unless rookie AJ Johnson makes a surprising leap, Wright should have a clear path to the backup point guard role. His greatest assets are his versatility and defensive prowess. At 6’5″, he can guard and play multiple positions, which will make him a valuable asset for Rivers. Wright’s active hands and defensive intensity could help boost the bench unit’s 21st-ranked steals per game from last season.
In addition to his defense, Wright can also provide scoring, ball-handling, and facilitating. His career 35.4% 3-point shooting and 3.1 assists per game average will help improve the b
As the NBA training camp approaches, the Milwaukee Bucks are gearing up for the upcoming season. After an offseason of roster retooling, the Bucks don’t have too many lingering questions, except for one – who will be the backup shooting guard behind newly-signed starter Gary Trent Jr.?
There are three Bucks players vying for this role heading into training camp: AJ Green, Andre Jackson Jr., and Pat Connaughton. Each player brings a unique set of skills to the table that could make them a candidate for the job.
Connaughton is the savvy veteran, which could give him an edge under the veteran-oriented head coach Doc Rivers. Green is an electric marksman who showed improved defense last season. Jackson, though still a bit wild, has the potential to be an energetic “do-it-all sparkplug” due to his impressive athleticism and two-way abilities.
Training camp will provide these three players the opportunity to showcase why they deserve a spot in the Bucks’ regular rotation. While Connaughton may have the edge initially due to his championship experience, there’s a good chance AJ Green could leapfrog him if he impresses during camp. Rivers took a liking to Green last season, and the guard’s shooting ability and potential defensive improvement could make him an intriguing option.
Ultimately, it will be up to the players and Coach Rivers to decide who emerges as Trent Jr.’s primary backup by the start of the 2024-25 NBA season.
New Brook Lopez trade rumor should have Milwaukee Bucks’ duo tense.
According to ESPN’s Brian Windhorst, the Milwaukee Bucks have told Brook Lopez that he is safe from being involved in any trade discussions. This is an interesting development, as Lopez was seen as potentially one of the Bucks’ most desirable trade assets given his championship experience and defensive prowess.
Bucks Likely to Shop Bobby Portis and Pat Connaughton
With Lopez off the table, the two Bucks players who are most likely to be shopped in potential trades are Bobby Portis and Pat Connaughton. Both players were mentioned in trade rumors leading up to the deadline last season, but the Bucks ultimately decided to keep them.
The Bucks cannot combine salaries in any trades due to second apron restrictions, so they would have to deal Portis or Connaughton separately.
Connaughton is the more likely of the two to be moved, as his production has declined over the past two years, while Portis remains one of the more productive reserves in the NBA.
Even though they may be shopped, Portis and Connaughton will need to play through the uncertainty and prove their worth to the Bucks.
Overall, it seems the Bucks are prioritizing continuity and stability with their core group, while potentially looking to upgrade their bench through trades involving Portis or Connaughton. This could be a smart strategy as they look to make another championship push in the 2024-25 season.
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