The Bucks’ Defense Is Becoming a Championship-Caliber One

Giannis Antetokounmpo and Brook Lopez are staying closer to the rim and the transition defense has improved since Doc Rivers took over.

When Doc Rivers took over coaching duties for the Milwaukee Bucks in late January, the No. 1 problem for him to solve was obvious: the Bucks’ porous defense.

Though the sample size is an important caveat, in the 16 games since Rivers took over, he seems to have addressed that problem immediately. Milwaukee’s defense is vastly improved under Rivers—and finally looks to be one capable of helping win this team a championship.

First, some numbers.

I pointed this out when Doc first took over and it’s worth repeating: Since 2010, only two teams have won a title with a defense outside the top 10, with the “worst” defense belonging to last season’s Denver Nuggets, who finished 15th in defensive rating. From the start of the season through Jan. 28, the Bucks had the 19th-best defense in the league, which was simply not good enough. Under Rivers, Milwaukee has had the fourth-best defense in the NBA since Jan. 29, which is more than good enough. That’s officially stingy.

Overall, the Bucks now have the 15th-best defense in the league for the season, which matches last season’s title-winning Denver team. And Milwaukee is clearly on the upswing. After a 3–7 start under Rivers, the Bucks have won six in a row coming out of the All-Star break. Sure, playing teams like the Charlotte Hornets (twice) and Chicago Bulls helps. But Milwaukee has also recorded impressive wins against the Minnesota Timberwolves and Los Angeles Clippers, the latter of which came without Giannis Antetokounmpo. And Khris Middleton—an important defensive piece—hasn’t played since Feb. 6.

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Rivers has brought a sense of normalcy back to the Bucks’ defense. Adrian Griffin never seemed to find the right scheme for this group, and it’s hard to blame him. Griffin wanted to evolve the team’s defense, but the late-summer trade for Damian Lillard seemed to throw a wrench in his plans. To start the season, Milwaukee’s defense was literally and figuratively all over the place, stretching out individual defenders much more than previous seasons in a more aggressive style.

The floor seems to be smaller under Rivers, as both Antetokounmpo and Brook Lopez are staying closer to the rim, reminiscent of the drop Mike Budenholzer employed to much success. The transition defense has also improved since late January, as the Bucks were routinely getting boat-raced on fast breaks in the first few months of the season. Again, Rivers is erring on the side of being conservative, placing more emphasis on players getting back as opposed to crashing the glass.

Mix in those tweaks with players playing better, some solid opponent-based adjustments and playing a few offensively challenged opponents, and Milwaukee is finally putting together the kind of extended stretch of inspired play they could never really seem to capture under Griffin.

Clippers forward Paul George takes a shot between Bucks center Brook Lopez and guard Patrick Beverley in the second quarter at Fiserv Forum in Milwaukee on March 4, 2024 :: Benny Sieu/USA TODAY Sports

So is it all roses, ice cream and perfect spring days in Wisconsin? While I believe this version of the Bucks is much more of a legitimate title threat than the one we saw pre-Rivers, I still need to see how the defense performs against the best competition. Matchups looming with the Boston Celtics, Phoenix Suns and Oklahoma City Thunder later this month should be instructive. The Bucks don’t have to go 3–0, but can they slow those guys down?

I also think Middleton’s health will ultimately be a major factor. He was incredible during the team’s 2021 championship run, and he’s seemingly never been fully healthy since hurting his knee in the subsequent playoffs. The Bucks seem to be bringing him back slowly from his current left ankle sprain, and that’s certainly the smart play. Milwaukee will need the two-way Middleton to beat the best.

For now, though, Rivers deserves credit for helping address what was the biggest non-Celtics-related obstacle on the Bucks’ path to a championship. It was never going to be an easy path for Milwaukee to win a title this year. But at least the Bucks appear to finally have the defense needed to do so.