Bucks Zone

Milwaukee Bucks drop two spots to no. 7 in the latest edition of The Athletic’s Power Rankings

The Bucks' defense continues to hinder them this season.

Matthew Dugandzic

© Benny Sieu-USA TODAY Sports
In this story:

The Milwaukee Bucks’ rollercoaster ride this season continued on Tuesday with the firing of head coach Adrian Griffin. Although the move was surprising given the Bucks’ 30-13 record—good for second in the Eastern Conference—some experts say it was only a matter of time before the team’s front office pulled the trigger given the team’s horrible defense.

That porous defense is part of why The Athletic dropped the Bucks two places to no. 7 in the latest edition of its NBA Power Rankings.

Incredible offense, subpar defense

It has been the same story all season long for the Bucks as Milwaukee boasts of an incendiary offense led by two-time MVP Giannis Antetokounmpo and seven-time All-Star Damian Lillard. However, their work on offense has been negated by their struggles on the defensive end.

The Bucks have a defensive rating of 117.4, ranking them in the bottom 10 in the league, leading many experts to doubt the legitimacy of their title bid this season.

“It’s so weird that nobody seems sold on this team. Giannis Antetokounmpo and Damian Lillard are two of the biggest stars in the league and complement each other extremely well. This team’s offense is ridiculous most nights, but it’s undermined by questionable depth and horrendous defense,” Zach Harper wrote.

Improve the defense

If the Bucks want to end the season on top, they must show more resolve on the defensive end. Although Milwaukee won two straight games against the Detroit Pistons this week, they gave up an average of 124 points to the NBA’s worst squad. This lack of defensive effort could prove costly in the playoffs, as top teams like the Boston Celtics and Philadelphia 76ers boast potent offenses.

“The Bucks rank 22nd in defensive rating, and they would need a complete defensive overhaul in order to get to the top 15,” Harper shared.

Report gives high-priced superstars Giannis Antetokounmpo, and Damian Lillard grades of 'As' at the halfway mark of the season

Published
Matthew Dugandzic
MATTHEW DUGANDZIC

Matthew finished his bachelor's degree in Economics (Management) at the University of Split and got his master's degree in the same field at the University of Zadar. Whether it is playing the game as an undersized 6'3'' power forward or simply watching it, Matthew can't get enough of it. After all, he has been an avid NBA fan since the 2000s. But don't get him wrong, as Matthew still loves the old-school NBA and is a true student of the game. From on-court moments to off-court stuff, whether it's about the stars of modern-day basketball or legends of the game, Matthew covers every category of the NBA world and basketball in general, as long as it makes for an engaging and exciting story.