The Milwaukee Bucks marked their 11th loss of the season on Saturday after suffering a disappointing 112-108 defeat at the hands of the Houston Rockets. Now with a 25-11 record, the Bucks are still second in the Eastern Conference, behind only the 28-7 Boston Celtics, who incidentally, own the best record in the entire NBA.
Be that as it may, it is worth noting that four out of Milwaukee’s 11 losses this season came against the Indiana Pacers. This obviously speaks volumes of how Tyrese Haliburton and Co. clearly have the Bucks’ number.
Stephen A. Smith Comments on Milwaukee Bucks’ Struggles Vs. Pacers
![Stephen A. Smith Slaps Milwaukee Bucks With Harsh Tyrese Haliburton, Pacers Reality 1 Sports commentator Stephen A. Smith gives comedian Kevin Heart a look during a live taping of ESPN's "First Take" at Florida A&M University's new Will Packer Performing Arts Amphitheater as part of the school's homecoming festivities Friday, Oct. 29, 2021. (NBA News) Famu Homecoming 102921 Ts 761](https://wisportsheroics.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/07/USATSI_17051002_168400517_lowres.jpg)
Famu Homecoming 102921 Ts 761
For ESPN broadcaster Stephen A. Smith, Milwaukee’s overall record isn’t a clear representation of how the Bucks have fared this season. Smith is more focused on the fact that Giannis Antetokounmpo and Co. have lost four out of their five games against Indiana in 2023-24:
“I don’t care that they’re 23-6 against everybody else outside of their 1-4 record against the Indiana Pacers,” Smith said on First Take Thursday (h/t Christopher Kuhagen of the Milwauee Journal Sentinel).
![Stephen A. Smith Slaps Milwaukee Bucks With Harsh Tyrese Haliburton, Pacers Reality 2 Mar 9, 2023; Indianapolis, Indiana, USA; Indiana Pacers guard Tyrese Haliburton (0) celebrates a made shot in the overtime against the Houston Rockets at Gainbridge Fieldhouse. Mandatory Credit: Trevor Ruszkowski-USA TODAY Sports (NBA News - Milwaukee Bucks)](https://wisportsheroics.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/07/USATSI_20186764_168400517_lowres.jpg)
Smith went on to bemoan Milwaukee’s defensive performance against Indiana, and how the Bucks pretty much let the Pacers have their way in their previous meetings.
“This is the NBA,” Smith said. “You know what other teams are going to do — look (at) what Indiana is doing and make sure you do it themselves.”
“We go small you can’t stop us. Can you guard the smaller dudes? No, they can’t. Haliburton is having a field day with them. They’re busting their you-know-little-what.”
![Stephen A. Smith Slaps Milwaukee Bucks With Harsh Tyrese Haliburton, Pacers Reality 3 Dec 13, 2023; Milwaukee, Wisconsin, USA; Indiana Pacers guard Tyrese Haliburton (0) passes the ball away from Milwaukee Bucks guard Damian Lillard (0) in the first quarter at Fiserv Forum. Mandatory Credit: Benny Sieu-USA TODAY Sports](https://wisportsheroics.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/USATSI_22100099_168400517_lowres.jpg)
This might sound a bit harsh, but the fact of the matter is that Haliburton is averaging 27.0 points against the Bucks in their matchups this season, including a 31-point explosion in their last meeting on January 3.
At this point, it wouldn’t be surprising if Milwaukee is hoping to potentially meet up against Indiana in the playoffs this season to exact some revenge against the Pacers — and also, prove Stephen A. Smith wrong in the process.
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