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