One reason why the Milwaukee Bucks won’t win the NBA championship
The arrival of Damian Lillard on the Milwaukee Bucks will undoubtedly resolve many of their offensive woes. However, it also adds to the vulnerability of the team on the defensive end of the floor. This could ultimately be the downfall of the Bucks as they face off against some incredibly talented offensive teams in the playoffs.
Could the Bucks be asking too much of Malik Beasley?
As we approach the end of October and the start of a new NBA season, one team has been making headlines for all the right reasons – the Milwaukee Bucks. The team-up of Dame and Giannis Antetokounmpo has basketball fans buzzing with excitement, and many are already predicting an NBA championship for the Bucks.
But in as much as this is a realistic expectation, Lillard's defensive shortcomings could prove to be a major obstacle in the Bucks' pursuit of a title. While his offensive abilities are unparalleled and will undoubtedly elevate the team's ceiling, it's important to consider that basketball is a two-way game, and defensive lapses, especially against the NBA's most lethal scorers, can have dire consequences.
This is where Malik Beasley comes into the picture, as Bucks coach Adrian Griffin has seemingly appointed the veteran guard as his new defensive stopper.
"Having Malik Beasley check the toughest wing assignments seems laughable on its face until you realize the Bucks aren't swimming in other places to turn. Moving Giannis Antetokounmpo into primary-assignment responsibility dilutes his everywhere-all-at-once impact. Jae Crowder isn't meant to cover those players anymore. Asking Khris Middleton to do it would be cruel and unusual punishment on his knees," Dan Favale of Bleacher Report wrote.
Who will play defense?
Fortunately for the Bucks, the team employs some of the best frontcourt stoppers. In Giannis, Milwaukee has a 7-foot-tall, long-limbed defender who can guard multiple positions and disrupt passing lanes with ease. In addition, they have center Brook Lopez, who, at 35 years old, finished as runner-up for the coveted Defensive Player of the Year award last season.