Bucks’ ‘steady progress’ on defense shines in rout of Nuggets،
MILWAUKEE — When Doc Rivers made his debut as coach of the Milwaukee Bucks on Jan. 29, he came away from the game encouraged by the team's defensive efforts despite a road loss at Denver.
Fast forward two weeks later and the Bucks earned one of their most comprehensive victories of the season, a 112-95 rout of the defending champions on Monday night. It was Milwaukee's second straight victory and second straight game with an opponent under 100 points, the first time the Bucks have accomplished that in the regular season since November 2021.
“The guys are just on the same page,” Bucks star Giannis Antetokounmpo said after the game. “Coach Doc holds us to a high standard. He wants us to defend. He doesn't take lack of effort as an excuse. If you're down, you have to do your best.”
Two-time MVP Nikola Jokic had 29 points, 12 rebounds and 8 assists, scoring or assisting on 48 of the Nuggets' 95 points, but his efforts weren't enough to overcome a few key injuries. Jamal Murray (shin injury) and Kentavious Caldwell-Pope (right hamstring strain) did not play in the second half.
Antetokounmpo led the Bucks with 36 points and 18 rebounds. He now has nine career games with 30 points, 15 rebounds and 5 assists while shooting 70%, tied with Charles Barkley for third most in NBA history, according to a study by ESPN Stats & Information. They trail only Wilt Chamberlain and Kareem Abdul-Jabbar.
Although Rivers praised the team's offensive pace, he was mostly encouraged to see the defense improve in some of the principles he has worked to install since taking over late from last month.
Milwaukee started 1-5 under Rivers, allowing 119.2 points per game in those six contests. But in those back-to-back wins, the Bucks held their opponents to 89.5 points per game.
“Just steady progress,” Rivers said after Monday’s game. “Believing in your D, trusting it, clarifying it – what we want to do…The more we can get our guys to know exactly what we're doing, they can play at full speed. That's what we Let's try it. Simplify, so we can play with fire.”
Rivers estimates the coaching staff spent about 70 percent of its available time working with the team's defense. And that goal has been to make sure the team is on the right page.
“I just think it’s a question of responsibility,” Bucks guard Damian Lillard said. “When we're watching film, we're in meetings, in practice I think Doc and our whole team does a great job of calling out everything. They challenge us in a lot of different ways. Our communication, at how physical we are, how we behave as a group.
“Trying to find our identity. Who do we want to be. Who are we going to walk by when we step on the field. And I think we just have a lot of carryover because there's so much conversation around it.”
