The Bucks eked out a 141-133 win against the Houston Rockets Friday night in a high-scoring affair that should have been easier than it played out.
Giannis, Khris, and Jrue paced the Bucks as per usual with 17, 23, and 20 points respectively. With Antetokounmpo only playing 29 minutes though, the Bucks had to find other ways to score. The end result shows they were able to do just that with little to no problems.
With the win, Milwaukee, now 43-24 in the standings, is now tied with the Brooklyn Nets for the second seed in the Eastern Conference. Here’s a quick look at what we noticed.
GOODNIGHT. pic.twitter.com/saN15YWTrB
— Milwaukee Bucks (@Bucks) May 8, 2021
Conservative three-point defense is a Bucks staple
As in their last meeting, the undermanned and outmatched Rockets were able to put up a fight with their scrappy play on both ends. Hustle and shooting was the name of the game for Houston, which only fielded eight players today, seven of whom finished in double figures. The Rockets finished with 47.2% shooting on threes as a team, despite being dead-last in the league in that department with only .337 3FG% for the season.
Leading by a point entering halftime, Milwaukee’s 16-7 run to start the third quarter turned things in their favor on the heels of stout defense. When Houston threatened to mount another comeback, it was Donte DiVincenzo who took it upon himself to right the ship. The Big Ragu went on a personal 7-0 run and dished an assist to Bryn Forbes in the corner to get back the lead. After the ten unanswered points, the Bucks never relinquished the lead.
This isn’t to say it was an easy win. Until the final period, Houston refused to go away thanks to a barrage of three-pointers on the heels of excellent ball movement. But Milwaukee’s litany of options on the offensive end ensured that the Bucks had an answer every time momentum seemed to shift.
The Big Ragu with the steal and score!! pic.twitter.com/jBTQsrgFd0
— Milwaukee Bucks (@Bucks) May 8, 2021
Composure is getting there, slowly but surely
Though the overall stats don’t reflect it, the Bucks have looked good in tense moments as of late. The eye test says they’re more purposeful and controlled in responding to runs, as this game showed. Budenholzer, too, seems to react quicker to coaching adjustments.
It would be easy to nitpick the Bucks’ struggles against teams they should be beating. This was the case when the Bucks dropped their last game against Houston. It was in that loss where Kevin Porter Jr. put their three-point defense (or lack thereof) front and center.
By all means, the Bucks’ composure under pressure should still be a concern. History has shown they blow leads like nobody’s business. As it currently stands, the Bucks are 19th in points in clutch situations, with a 17th-ranked .481 win percentage in these games. For a team with championship aspirations, they just don’t look good down the stretch. When behind or tied in the last minute, the Bucks have won just 3 of their 13 games that swung this way.
Where the blame should be directed is yet unclear. Is it on Mike Budenholzer for going to Middleton in the corner with the same sets every time? Or is it on Middleton himself, whose utilitarian ball-handling skill simply does not hold up when he’s doubled?
Lopez and DiVincenzo are starters for a reason
Criticisms over both Brook Lopez and Donte DiVincenzo as being the weak links in the Bucks’ starting lineup are nothing new. One is too immobile for modern defenses, and the other doesn’t inspire much optimism in his shooting ability. These are valid concerns for players who can’t seem to hit wide-open shots, but they tend to overshadow non-scoring production.
They poured in excellent showings once again. Lopez went to work against Kelly Olynyk, the only real big that Stephen Silas could throw at him. He finished with a game-high +20 and let the team with 24 points on 7-8 shooting. DiVincenzo’s energy also never let up, showing off his elite athleticism at the guard position en route to 18 points, 7 rebounds, 4 assists, and 2 steals.
Brook led the team in scoring:
24 PTS | 7 REB | 2 BLK | 7/8 FG pic.twitter.com/KQbFnumauo
— Milwaukee Bucks (@Bucks) May 8, 2021
With the Big Three taking most of the shots, it seems unfair to evaluate two defensive players off their offensive production. It’s no secret that the two tend to struggle with streakiness during the regular season. Outings like this only spell good things moving forward as the playoffs draw closer.
The two don’t bring the two-way talent that Milwaukee’s star-studded Big Three does, but to say that they’re the team’s weakest links is patently incorrect.
[pickup_prop id=”6943″]
Follow me on Twitter at @BucksGotNext for more great content! Check out our merch page here and use promo code WISCO the get $1 off! To read more of our articles and keep up to date on the latest in Wisconsin sports, click here.
