© Michael McLoone-USA TODAY Sports
Milwaukee Bucks' odd start offers cause for concern
The Milwaukee Bucks’ disjointed start is not at all surprising. For all the talk regarding the Bucks’ firepower, especially after acquiring seven-time All-NBA member Damian Lillard, history shows that “super teams” don’t click right from the get-go. There’s a learning curve involved, and Milwaukee is no exception.
It takes time
From the Los Angeles Lakers squad that had Steve Nash and Dwight Howard to the “Heatles” of South Beach or even the current Phoenix Suns squad, teams that bring together multiple superstars take time to develop chemistry on the court—if at all. Fortunately for the Bucks, they still own a 5-2 record despite their early-season struggles. However, it still doesn’t mask the fact that there is still much room for improvement.
“Make no mistake, this isn’t what Bucks officials had in mind when they shocked the NBA world by pairing Damian Lillard with Giannis Antetokounmpo in late September,” The Athletic’s Sam Amick wrote.
The team’s defense is ranked in the bottom half of the NBA when it comes to defensive rating, while their offense—though somewhat improved from last season—still lacks flow and cohesion.
Got to get it together
That said, the Bucks still have an eternity of basketball to figure things out. Giannis isn’t going anywhere after recently signing a contract extension, while Khris Middleton is slowly improving his health and conditioning after recovering from offseason knee surgery.
“The Khris Middleton factor has loomed large, as the three-time All-Star has only played in five games while averaging just 18.5 minutes as he continues to recover from offseason knee surgery. His outing against the Nets — a season-high 15 points, four assists, and three rebounds in a season-high 21 minutes — was a step in the right direction on that front.”
