“The Bad Defense Is Not Due to Damian Lillard”: Gilbert Arenas Removes All-Star Starter from Mistake During Bucks’ Difficulties
Three of the last four games for the Milwaukee Bucks have ended in losses. Fans are worried about their recent performance, even though they are currently the No. 2 seed in the East, given that Adrian Griffin, their head coach, was fired and Doc Rivers was appointed in his place. Damian Lillard has been the most prominent victim of the Bucks’ defensive shortcomings, which have been largely blamed for their problems this season. Recently, former NBA All-Star Gilbert Arenas discussed the Bucks’ difficulties while absolving the newly named All-Star starter of any responsibility.
The Portland Trail Blazers defeated the Milwaukee Bucks in their most recent matchup. The Bucks not only lost to a rebuilding club, but they also couldn’t defeat Damian Lillard’s previous squad.
The Bucks’ defensive shortcomings were discussed by Arenas on the most recent episode of Gil’s Arena. He was careful to emphasize that the Bucks’ defensive problems stemmed from the departure of several former players rather than Lillard’s arrival.
When comparing the Milwaukee Bucks’ defense from last season to this one, there have undoubtedly been some differences. The Bucks exhibited a tough defense on the perimeter as well as in the paint.
Teams that faced the Bucks the previous season were ranked 18th in terms of three-pointers attempted. This year, with other teams feeling more at ease on the perimeter, that number has increased to the tenth position. And a large portion of it stems from the poor coverage that Jrue Holiday and Grayson Allen brought with them when they went to the three-point line.
The Bucks have much more turnovers than they did the previous season and have also experienced a decline in rebounding. Arenas claims that Lillard’s poor defensive performance isn’t the reason for the Bucks’ 116.4 defensive rating. The main cause is Milwaukee’s lackluster defensive systems. They only rely on players like Brook Lopez and Giannis Antetokounmpo to make excellent defensive plays.
Adrian Griffin was recently fired by the Milwaukee Bucks in order to make room for Doc Rivers as head coach. Considering their 32-14 record, it did not first appear that the head coaching position needed to be changed. They appear to be having a difficult start, though.
In his first press conference as the Milwaukee Bucks’ new coach, Doc Rivers stressed how challenging it is to take over a team in the middle of the season. He also talked about the championship hopes that fans across the league have for the Bucks now that Damian Lillard is a member of the team.
For the Milwaukee Bucks this season, the stakes are quite high. And the team’s surroundings already seem to be one of “Championship or Bust.” In addition to harming the Bucks, anything short than a championship would damage Doc Rivers’ standing as a mentor. It is now his responsibility to assess Milwaukee’s defensive position as soon as feasible.
