LAKE BUENA VISTA, Fla. – Three thoughts on Milwaukee’s winning series about Orlando:
The Bucks found their defense again
It’s been a few weeks for Milwaukee, who saw a historically good pre-pandemic defense sliding into the bubble in the middle of the pack.
The Magic defeated the Bucks in Game 1. In Game 2, the Milwaukee defense jumped to life. Orlando’s numbers in the first quarter: 13 points, 12.5% from the floor, 9.1% from three. Overall, the Bucks held the Magic up to 35% of shots from the floor (49% in Game 1) and 21% of three (39% on Tuesday).
The Bucks will have offensive anger, especially when Giannis Antetokounmpo is out of the game. Defensively, they have the talent to be great, and they need to be to make a deep postseason run.
Mike Budenholzer wanted aggression
And he got it in Game 2. The Bucks have apparently been in control since the cruise. Some of that can be attributed to the fact that they have not played any significant seeding game. But the Magic, down Aaron Gordon, worked Milwaukee out in Game 1.
On Thursday, the Bucks fit in with that aggressiveness. Antetokounmpo set the tone, collecting 28 points, mostly on hard disks after the paint. This was a great moment for Giannis. A loss would have put Milwaukee under enormous pressure – and the conversation about his future increased tenfold. Instead, Giannis responded the way an MVP should: 28 points, 20 rebounds and five assists.
Not bad, Eric Bledsoe
As indicated, well, everywhere, Bledsoe is a big wild card for Milwaukee. His recent playoff history has been checked, to say the least, and there is no Malcolm Brogdon-shaped safety net for the Bucks this season.
Therefore, Budenholzer had to be happy to see Bledsoe put together a clean 13-point, seven-assist stat line while hanging Markelle Fultz across the floor. Bledsoe’s three-point shooting is still shaky – he missed all three of his attempts on Thursday and is 1-for-8 in two games – but the Bucks will take that kind of effort. The Bucks need this kind of effort, and more.
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