Monday’s showdown between the Milwaukee Bucks and the Denver Nuggets went down the wire. It was exactly the type of game fans were expecting between two of the top teams in the NBA.
In the end, however, one team had to come out on top. This turned out to be the Nuggets as they defended their home court against a formidable challenge by Giannis Antetokounmpo and Co., 113-107.
Doc Rivers Admits Milwaukee Bucks Had to Change Tactics Vs. Nuggets
Monday’s contest was an important one for the Bucks because it was the first game new head coach Doc Rivers was in charge. Rivers and his squad came into this matchup with a game plan in mind as they made the necessary preparations against the defending champs.
Unfortunately, one particular misstep from Giannis in the fourth quarter forced Rivers to switch his tactics up late in the game.
“(It) hurt us when [Antetokounmpo] picked that fourth foul up because we were about to go to him guarding (Jokić),” Rivers said, via Eric Nehm of The Athletic. “We were going to go small, Giannis the only big. Joker would have to guard him in transition, but then he picks up his fourth foul. So, sometimes you have plans, and they don’t work.”
As Rivers revealed in his post-game press conference, he wanted to play some small-ball in crunch time with Giannis at the five. His plan went out the window when Antetokounmpo committed his fourth foul with a little less than eight minutes remaining in the final frame.
Rivers wanted to exploit Giannis’ matchup against Nikola Jokic on the offensive end and in transition, but the Bucks did not get a chance to do so with Antetokounmpo getting himself in foul trouble even before the mid-way point of the fourth period.
Coach Doc had to go to his contingency plan, which ultimately, resulted in the Nuggets securing a statement win against the Bucks.
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