The Milwaukee Bucks are down 0-2 in the first round of the NBA Playoffs following their 123-115 loss to the Indian Pacers in Game Two on Tuesday night. While Milwaukee saw nine-time All-Star point guard Damian Lillard return from a four-week absence due to a blood clot in his calf, the Bucks lacked scoring and playmaking ability outside of Giannis Antetokounmpo and Bobby Portis.
Lillard had 14 points and seven assists in his return, but was just 4-13 from the floor (2-8 from three) and 4-5 from the free throw line. Giannis had another stellar game with 34 points, 18 rebounds, and seven assists, while Portis had 28 points and 12 rebounds off the bench.
Unfortunately, it was not enough. For the second game in a row, the Bucks got off to a slow start in the first quarter. Indiana jumped out to an early 8-0 lead and never looked back. Once again, Milwaukee’s starters, specifically Brook Lopez and Taurean Prince, were left in the dust of the faster Pacers players. In what has become a frustrating trend, both players started the game the Bucks only to see themselves play half or less than half of the minutes of the other starters.
Milwaukee Bucks Head Coach Doc Rivers Says Adjustments Need to Be Made
Giannis, of course, played the most minutes of any Bucks starter with 40. Lillard, despite coming back from a blood clot, played 37. Kyle Kuzma, who had 12 points and three rebounds, played 31 minutes. Lopez played just 16 minutes and Prince just 19.
Between the two front court players, they grabbed just one single rebound. One.
AJ Green, who played just 12 minutes, had two rebounds by himself. Kevin Porter Jr., who played 15 minutes, had three.
Simply put, Lopez and Prince were not doing their jobs on Tuesday night. They were not boxing out, they could not keep up in transition, and they got blown away in the half-court defense.
When asked about Milwaukee’s tendency to start slow in their last two games, head coach Doc Rivers said, “We’ve gotten off to two poor starts. We gotta make an adjustment there for sure.”
These are adjustments that Bucks fans have been calling for since early in the season.
Milwaukee Bucks Fans Go Off on Head Coach Doc Rivers
It is painfully obvious that the reason for Milwaukee’s slow starts is their inability to rebound defensively, allowing Indiana to get early second-chance points. Additionally, the Pacers are allowed to get early transition points while 2/5 of the Bucks’ starters lag behind the rest.
It has been this way for a while, and fans are wondering why Rivers is just now starting to notice:
Hmmm, only if a head coach with all that bench of coaches could figure it out?
— MJCCFA (@MikefromWisky) April 23, 2025
Ya think? 🤦🏼♀️
— Charlotte_Joy (@charlotte_joy) April 23, 2025
I mean, really Doc, you don’t say!!! Adjustments, a lot of us have been saying that!! He needs to bench Amber Rose and toilet paper for game three!!
— Jeŕe 🦌 (@Djay777Jere) April 23, 2025
You’ve had slow starts for months doc months how did you not see this coming
— andrewzhanselhanson (@andrewhzlhanson) April 23, 2025
Replace TP with AJ Green, swap Lopez for either Sims or put GA at the 5 and portis at the 4. Bring in Lopez as a short term, quick burst offensive scorer and the moment it gets bad, remove him. That should help some.
— AzuraLegend (@CookieDaBest711) April 23, 2025
It is clear that the starting lineup just is not good enough. The question is if Rivers realizes it and will make the necessary adjustments. If he fails to do so, and the Bucks are knocked out in the first round again, it could cost him his job.
More Milwaukee Bucks News from Wisconsin Sports Heroics
- Bucks’ Coach Doc Rivers Sees Confident Quote After Game 2 Loss Draw Wild Reaction from Fans
- Bucks Drop Game 2 Despite Damian Lillard’s Much-Anticipated Return
- “Will Make His Return;” Bucks Star Damian Lillard Will Play in Game 2 vs Pacers
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1 Comment
Well another disappointing season make the plaoffs and lose in round 1, so do we start over again new coach new players doesnt look good for the Bucks getting older every year, so lets start with a former head coach we had and liked MIKE BUDENHOLZER thats all Folks.