Now that the 2023 regular season is in full swing for the NBA, this is when the wins and losses really start to count. The Milwaukee Bucks are still learning to adjust around their new roster, new coaching staff, learning the ways of Damian Lillard and learning how Adrian Griffin can lead the team to victory.
It’s been a difficult start for the Bucks, as they lost to the Toronto Raptors, 130-111 in Game 3 of the season.
Final. pic.twitter.com/xgislkIz4R
— Milwaukee Bucks (@Bucks) November 2, 2023
Bucks’ Giannis Antetokounmpo: “It’s a struggle”
Bucks’ leader and superstar Giannis Antetokounmpo said that it’s been a struggle, but that doesn’t excuse how they’ve been playing.
“It’s a struggle,” Antetokounmpo said. “Okay, we can make excuses, there’s a new player, there’s a new coach, there’s a new coach – we can keep on making excuses and think that it’s going to be okay, but that doesn’t work in life. That doesn’t work like that.”
The Bucks never had a lead on Toronto, and the Raptors defense was all over the court, making it hard for Milwaukee to get focused and push through Toronto’s defensive efforts. Three players on the Raptors scored more than 20 points, Pascal Siakam with 26, Dennis Schroder with 24, and 21 by Scottie Barnes.
There’s no denying that it can be a little difficult to navigate through a new team, especially after hiring a new head coach and bringing on a new superstar to their roster. With a player like Lillard on the roster, the players have to almost learn how to figure out each other.
“You have to figure out solutions, and right now, our solution is that, oh, we have a new player and a new coach, and oh, we’re going to be better in Game 40. No. We have to get better. We have to play together.
“We have to be more clear on what we try to get from offense. We have to be more clear with what we’re trying to accomplish defensively and who we are going to let attack us, because you’ve got to lie with something. You cannot stop everything. We can keep on figuring out solutions. Right now, we’re not there yet.”
Giannis. pic.twitter.com/ZO0xwfGSGx
— Milwaukee Bucks (@Bucks) November 2, 2023
In a year where the Bucks are fully capable of winning another championship, it’s games like those against the Raptors that should be easily won, especially when it’s against a struggling team. But, coach Griffin said that sometimes getting beat is what makes you better.
“Sometimes getting embarrassed is good because it forces you to focus on doing the right things consistently,” Griffin said.
The Bucks host the New York Knicks (2-3) at Fiserv Forum on Friday night, hoping to come back from a loss by 19. They will sport their brand new City Edition jerseys in the first game of the In-Season Tournament.
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