© Paul Rutherford-USA TODAY Sports
Slow starts are a puzzle that the Milwaukee Bucks cannot solve yet
A slow start was again the culprit when the Milwaukee Bucks lost to the Boston Celtics on Wednesday night, 116-119.
It was Milwaukee's fifth loss in the season, and just like in its four previous losses, they started poorly. The Bucks failed to score in over three minutes against Boston, which jumped out to a quick 10-0 lead.
The Celtics went on to lead by as many as 20 points and held off the Bucks' comeback endgame bid to escape with the win.
The glaring weakness
Poor starts are turning out to be Milwaukee's Achilles heel early in the season.
The Bucks trailed after the first quarter in their four other losses to the Atlanta Hawks (127-110), Toronto Raptors (130-111), Indiana Pacers (126-124), and Orlando Magic (112-97).
The slow starts have proved costly for the Bucks, but they are at a loss as to what causes their faulty first-quarter performances.
Confused with their slow starts
Shortly after losing to the Celtics, Giannis Antetokounmpo was asked what was ailing the team in the opening periods, and the Greek Freak couldn't explain.
"I wish I knew. If I knew the secret formula or how we will start the first quarter, always engaged and make shots, I'd do it every single time. Because I have an obsessed personality, but I don't…sometimes you start well, sometimes you don't. It's part of the game. Today, we didn't start well," Giannis said.
Coach Adrian Griffin also isn't sure what's causing the team's dismal performances to start the game.
"I know we, at times, get off to slow starts; I don't know if it's the shot-making or just getting our engines going at times," said Griffin.
Brook Lopez is confused about why the Bucks have a penchant for starting the slow.
"If I had a better answer, hopefully, that wouldn't keep happening. It's obviously something we'll figure out, but hopefully, starting with myself, we have a bit of urgency figuring that issue out," Lopez said.
It is often said that "it's not how you start, but how you finish," but in Milwaukee's case, it has endured losses based on how it started.
The season is still in its early stages, and the Bucks still have a lot of time to develop a habit of starting games strong. Fans would want to see the Bucks figure things out immediately before things become too late for them.
