Recent Giannis Quote Gashing Bucks’ Defense Resurfaces After Adrian Griffin Fired
The Milwaukee Bucks dropped the bombshell news Tuesday that they’ve fired first-year coach Adrian Griffin despite the team’s 30–13 record. The move comes as a shock throughout the NBA world given the team’s success, but fans online were quick to point out a quote from Giannis Antetokounmpo just a few weeks ago that called out the team’s defense—possibly foreshadowing the move.
“Now, defensively, we have to have a plan,” Antetokounmpo said after a 112–108 loss to the Houston Rockets on Jan. 6. “What is our strategy? Are we going to give a lot of open threes? Are we going to let them get in the paint? When they go in the post, are we going to stay with ours and play one-on-one? What is our strategy? Right now, we are giving everything. We are giving everything. We are giving the threes. We are giving straight-line drives. We are letting guys play in the post and get comfortable. We’re giving offensive rebounds.”
Antetokounmpo has been fairly open about the team’s defense this season, but it’s unclear how much Griffin played a role in the team’s shortcomings there. In recent years under former coach Mike Budenholzer, the team has been one of the best defensive teams in the NBA. But this year, the Bucks are 22nd in defensive rating (116.8).
Assistant coach Joe Prunty will serve as interim coach while the franchise looks for a permanent replacement.
