© Jerome Miron-USA TODAY Sports
Malik Beasley believes the Milwaukee Bucks’ defense is coming on strong
Even without two starters and another exiting in the first quarter, the Milwaukee Bucks pushed the powerhouse Phoenix Suns to the brink before succumbing, 114-106, to finish the Western Conference road trip with a dismal 1-4 mark. Despite the subpar showing away from home, veteran guard Malik Beasley saw a lot of reasons to be optimistic for the rest of the season—their improvements on defense.
Defense is catching up
Despite their stellar record under previous coach Adrian Griffin—30-13—the Bucks' decision-makers weren't convinced the team could go all the way primarily because of their lackluster defense, which ranked in the bottom 10 regarding points allowed and defensive rating. However, Milwaukee's defense under new coach Doc Rivers has resembled more of the top-10 unit it was in previous seasons.
In their recent game against the Suns, the Bucks' defense was on full display as they held their opponents to just 114 points. This may seem like a high number, but it was a significant improvement compared to their previous performances this season.
"It just shows how great our defense is becoming," Beasley said.
"They got a lot of great superstars on that team, so to be able to hold them to (114 points), to be able to hold them down the stretch like that is pretty good. Obviously, on the offensive end, we gotta be better, but we're still figuring it out."
Undermanned unit
The Bucks were playing without All-Stars Damian Lillard and Brook Lopez and lost veteran wingman Khris Middleton to a sprained ankle early in the first quarter. Though Milwaukee entered halftime up by one, Phoenix's offensive firepower—spearheaded by the "Big 3" of former league MVP Kevin Durant and All-Stars Devin Booker and Bradley Beal—proved too much to handle.
The result was far from what the Bucks desired, but it was a positive sign for the team's ability to defend in a season where it has been their most prominent question mark.
"We're still positive in the locker room. When you have an injury mid-game and Dame (out) before the game, our center out, everybody's adjusting, so we'll be alright," Beasley quipped.
