The Milwaukee Bucks started off the 2023-24 NBA season with a thrilling 118-117 victory over the Philadelphia 76ers. For the first time, Bucks fans (and basketball fans in general) were treated to watching Damian Lillard and Giannis Antetokounmpo play together on the same team in a meaningful basketball game (they were previously teammates in the 2023 Kia NBA All-Star Game).
As is the case for every season opener, the product on the floor was far from crisp. It was apparent that this new and improved Bucks team is going to need a few weeks (months) of playing together in order to develop the on-court chemistry that they will need to win a NBA Championship.
That being said, in what turned out to be a choppy game, Milwaukee emerged victorious. It was the kind of game that a Mike Budenholzer Bucks team would have lost, indicating that this team has already taken steps forward rather than steps backward in their pursuit of a title.
The Good
As is the case in every victory, a lot must have gone right in order for the team to come away with the win. Indeed, there was a great deal to like about the Bucks going forward. While not a finished product, they have laid a good foundation for which they can build future success this season.
Even forward Jae Crowder saw the game for what it was: the first step in a long journey:
INSTEAD OF TRYING TO BUILD A BRICK WALL, LAY A BRICK EVERYDAY. EVENTUALLY YOU WILL LOOK UP AND HAVE A BRICK WALL.!!🤞🏾⏳
— JAE CROWDER (@CJC9BOSS) October 27, 2023
Game one is just one game, but what will make this team special already has already been flashed.
Damian Lillard Is Already In the Milwaukee Bucks Record Books
One game into his tenure with the Bucks and seven-time All-Star Damian Lillard is already etched his name in their record book. His 39 points set a franchise record for the most points scored by a player in his debut with the team. He also tied the franchise record for most free throws made in a game without a miss (17).
When Milwaukee needed a closer to put the game away, Lillard answered the call with 14 points in the game’s final four minutes.
It may just be one game, but it is already easy to see that the future Hall of Fame point guard is going to elevate this Bucks team to new levels.
Milwaukee Bucks Head Coach Adrian Griffin’s In-Game Adjustments
One of the biggest criticisms of former coach Budenholzer was his inability to adjust his defense during games. Indeed, this lack of defensive awareness likely cost the Bucks at least one more trip to the NBA Finals.
Rookie head coach Adrian Griffin showed that he is not going to fall into the bad habits of his predecessor. In the second half, 76ers star (and reigning NBA MVP) Joel Embiid started to get hot, making multiple three-point shots over Brook Lopez who was struggling to guard him at the top.
After a timeout, Giannis Antetokounmpo was assigned to guard Embiid. In short order, Giannis forced two turnovers and scored on a fastbreak dunk:
Difference between GA & Embiid.
Crumbles (flops) to the floor like a bag of Kroger graham crackers. Giannis dunk.
Embiid nodding like “Ok, I see how it is.”
Let’s see how Embiid responds.
“I think I will flop again.” pic.twitter.com/8lZtDve7dH
— Steve Pelicopter (@stevepeli) October 27, 2023
As the Bucks look to find their identity, it will be vital for Griffin to be able to pull the right strings within the game itself. It is just one game, but he has already shown a great awareness and understanding for what needs to change within games.
The Bad
Milwaukee, at one point, led by over 20 points. However, as seen by the final score, Philadelphia made it close, and even took the lead in the fourth quarter for a while.
As mentioned, the product the Bucks put on the floor is far from a finished one, and they need time to develop on-court chemistry.
Milwaukee Bucks Shooting Guard Malik Beasley Had Just 1 Three-Point Attempt
To be clear, Malik Beasley did not have a bad game; but he did not have a good game either. He ended the night with five points, four rebounds, three assists, and two steals.
The problem, though, is that he attempted just four shots and only one of them was a three point attempt (which he made). The Bucks brought Beasley in for his three-point prowess (he’s a career 37.8% three-point shooter), but he did not get the shot opportunities they will need him to have to ensure long-term success.
Early in the game, the Bucks were moving the ball well and scoring was evenly divided. However, as the game went on, shots were taken early in the shot clock and fewer passes were made on offense. Beasley will benefit from more ball movement, as will the other shooters on the team.
The Ugly
Unfortunately, there were also some things that were frustrating holdovers from previous seasons, namely:
Free Throw Shooting (Except for Damian Lillard)
While Lillard was 17/17 from the free throw line, the rest of the team was just 8/19. Giannis was 3/9 and sixth-man Bobby Portis was 0/4.
Portis will likely improve quickly, but Giannis shot 64.5% from the line last year. While he is still arguably the best player in the NBA and is definitely one of the greatest players of all time, it is frustrating to see a player who gets fouled as much as he does struggle so much from the line.
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