So far, so good for the new look Bucks. The run and gun Bucks have won six straight games and are averaging 113 points per game during that span. In addition, Milwaukee has dished out at least 30 assists for the fourth straight game. Sharing is not only caring for the Bucks, it’s winning – at least for the time being.
With their recent hot streak, the Bucks now boast the seventh best offense in the league, averaging 98.0 points per game this season. For sake of comparison, the Bucks were dead last in offense last year, averaging only 91.9 points per game. Although there are many factors at play, it appears Milwaukee’s willingness to pass the ball – sometimes to a fault – is the driving force behind the drastic improvement. The Bucks were last in the NBA in assists per game last season, but they’re currently fourth best in that category this season.
Although everything seems to be on an upswing for the Bucks, there are still some legitimate concerns that lie ahead. Milwaukee’s defense is becoming increasingly worse as the season progresses. Part of that is a result of the uptempo style – which results in more possessions per game – but numbers don’t lie and neither does Drew Gooden’s post defense (or lack thereof). The Bucks are ranked 23rd in points allowed per game after being the third best defensive team in the NBA. Not having Andrew Bogut for a majority of the season has definitely had an impact, but his absence alone shouldn’t justify a huge drop in defense. If the Bucks want to be a legitimate contender in the playoffs – where run and gun offenses are notorious for failing – they will have to improve their defensive effort.
In order to be a legitimate contender in the playoffs, you obviously have to get there first. That’s not a foregone conclusion for the Bucks as the Knicks have stormed off a five-game win streak of their own. The Knicks haven’t lost a game since they fired head coach Mike D’Antoni and appear to be playing as a team – a novel concept for them. It will be interesting to see which team – the Bucks or the Knicks – can maintain a winning pace. The final playoff spot will be at stake.
While the spontaneously intriguing race for the 8th seed continues, here’s a quick review of Milwaukee’s last two games (blowouts).
Bucks (120) at Warriors (98) – March 16 (Friday)
The Good: The Bucks’ debut of Monta Ellis came against his former team, and he did not disappoint. Ellis scored 18 points, grabbed four rebounds and tallied four assists in the winning effort. In a debut game full of emotions, it’s hard to expect much more.
The Bad: There wasn’t a whole lot of “bad” for either team in this one. The Bucks got a much needed road win on the west coast, while the Warriors picked up a loss and a bump in the lottery standings. The Warriors forfeit their first round pick next year if they don’t have a top seven pick, so they have significant tanking incentive.
The Ugly: The biggest ovations from the Oracle Arena faithful were for Monta Ellis – not their own team. Ellis received numerous standing ovations in the first half, and the fans even cheered for his baskets – against their own team.
Bucks (116) vs. Trail Blazers (87) – March 20 (Tuesday)
The Good: The Bucks finished up their sweep of the short west coast road trip – where they’ve struggled historically – in convincing fashion. Milwaukee shot 57.8% from the field and dished out 35 assists on 48 made field goals. Ekpe Udoh – the other player acquired in the Bogut trade -made his presence known by hauling in six rebounds and blocking four shots. It would be a huge boost for the Bucks if Udoh could protect the paint in consistent, extended minutes.
The Bad: The Bucks were facing another team seemingly tanking. The Trail Blazers signaled a complete rebuild when they flipped two of their starters at the deadline for draft picks and cap relief. As a result, the Bucks played against the likes of Luke Babbitt, Johnny Flynn and Hasheem Thabeet. That list of players alone may make you fear the lottery.
The Ugly: Portland center Joel Przybilla committed a jump ball violation after arguing with the ref for over 20 seconds about how he lined up his feet. It was…odd.
A look ahead: The Bucks now face a stretch of five games in six days, after only playing two games in seven days. It’s a crucial set of games for the Bucks as they face four teams they’re chasing in the playoff race in that span. They host the Celtics, Pacers and Hawks and visit the Knicks. If the Bucks want to make a serious run at the playoffs, now would be a good time to keep winning.
Random stat of the day (brought to you by the @BucksPR twitter handle):
The Bucks are 5-0 when Mike Dunleavy Jr. scores 20 or more points and 11-3 when he scores 15 or more points.