Last season proved to be a disaster for the Milwaukee Bucks when it came to defense. With the new season coming soon, the Giannis Antetokounmpo-led squad must find a way to regain its former form on the end of the court.
The Bucks are at a pivotal moment as they seek to restore their defensive dominance ahead of the 2024-25 NBA season.
After consistently ranking among the league’s elite defenses during Mike Budenholzer’s tenure, the team slipped to 19th in defensive rating last season. The arrival of head coach Doc Rivers has brought some improvement, but the Bucks still need to address key issues to compete for a championship.
At the heart of this challenge is the duo of Antetokounmpo and big man Brook Lopez. While Lopez remains an effective rim protector, leading the league in several defensive metrics, his age at 36 raises concerns about his long-term viability. Antetokounmpo continues to excel as a defensive force, but the Bucks suffered from a lack of elite perimeter defenders last season, particularly after losing Jrue Holiday.
To regain their defensive prowess, the Bucks must consider strategic changes, including potentially adding a strong defensive player to complement their high-scoring lineup. The focus will be on improving transition defense and enhancing on-ball pressure, areas that significantly hindered their performance last season.
Milwaukee Bucks’ Defense Gets Called Out in Latest NBA Analysis
For the Bucks to win another ring, they have to find their identity on the defensive end of the court. In an analysis by Dan Favale for Bleacher Report, Milwaukee has to fill a need in their lineup to ensure the team improves defensively.
“Milwaukee’s most-used lineup—presumably Antetokounmpo, Lopez, Trent, Damian Lillard and Khris Middleton—will be fine. But the rotation could use a two-way wing, particularly if you’re worried about Lopez losing a step as your anchor at age 36 or concerned about the durability and waning mobility of Khris Middleton.
“Two-way wings” is a loaded need. Virtually every team could use more. In the Bucks’ case, though, it’s not so much about pining after a marquee name they can’t get as it is about potentially needing someone with more positional malleability who can help float their defense inside secondary lineups,” Favale wrote.
Last season, the Bucks ended their run with a 19th-ranked defense out of 30 teams in the league. If they want to win another championship, Rivers must find a way to take that up a couple of notches more.
As the Bucks prepare for the upcoming season, building a top-10 defense will be crucial for their title aspirations. With the right adjustments and a commitment to defensive excellence, they can once again become a formidable force in the league.
