Bucks let threes fly in scrimmage

The Milwaukee Bucks took the court at Fiserv Forum for the first time Saturday for their annual open scrimmage. The event included four, 10-minute quarters with a few players swapping teams at each quarter break.

Giannis Antetokounmpo, Sterling Brown and Trevon Duval did not play. Of the three, coach Mike Budenholzer referenced a specific injury only to Duval, saying he had an eye injury that team doctors are continuing to monitor and treat.

“Hopefully they’re able to practice the beginning of next week,” Budenholzer said regarding Antetokounmpo and Brown. “I don’t think it’s anything too serious.”

D.J. Wilson, who got off to a strong start, limped off the court early in the second quarter holding his right thigh and did not return.

Here are four takeaways from the action on the court.

Bombs away

One of the constant refrains in training camp is that the Bucks are going to shoot more three-pointers, including stretching their big men out to the perimeter more. They certainly followed through on that Saturday.

Everyone who saw the court not only looked willing and able to shoot threepointers, but confident in their shot, too. The Bucks looked drastically different from Milwaukee teams of the recent past, firing away from outside about every chance they got.

“We’re encouraging a lot of spacing, guys having a lot of confidence,” Budenholzer said. “It felt like we shot a ton of them.”

Among the centers, Brook Lopez and Christian Wood turned heads with their outside shots. Lopez made three triples in 41⁄2 minutes in the third period. Wood heated up in that period as well and made a handful of treys on the day.

Center John Henson, who has attempted 13 career three-pointers, put up nearly half that Saturday, including making one from the corner.

“Just part of getting better, man, practicing,” Henson said. “Not saying I’m going to be out there in the games chucking them up like that, but to see one go in from the corner, that’s the goal. ...

“I think every big man hit a three today. That’s what we want, to space the floor so Giannis and Bled (Eric Bledsoe) and guys like Khris (Middleton) will have space to do what they do.”

Going deep

The Bucks’ bench has been an issue in recent seasons. That may change this year.

It’s still early, but Milwaukee appears loaded with options beyond its projected starting unit of Bledsoe, Malcolm Brogdon, Middleton, Antetokounmpo and Lopez.

Free-agent acquisitions Ersan Ilyasova and Pat Connaughton fit in nicely. Ilyasova battled inside for rebounds, moved well on defense and spaced the floor. Connaughton got off to a slow start shooting, but he buried a few three-pointers as the game went on.

Returning players Tony Snell, Matthew Dellavedova and Thon Maker seemed to fit better in Budenholzer’s system and performed fairly well. Wilson got off to a strong start, making a slick pass for a Henson dunk then making a steal and getting a dunk of his own right off the jump. Rookie Donte DiVincenzo still has room to improve in multiple areas, including finding his shot consistently and finishing, but he made a few baskets late and throughout the day used his quickness well to open up lanes for himself and others.

Battle for the last spot

The Bucks have 14 of their 15 roster spots spoken for by players on guaranteed contracts. Among the four players battling for the last spot — Wood, Shabazz Muhammad, Tim Frazier and Tyler Zeller — it was Wood who stood out the most Saturday.

When in the game, Wood made his presence known on the offensive boards, where he pulled down at least five rebounds regardless of whom he was going against. He also made a handful of three-pointers, overpowered Maker on the way to the rim, grabbed a steal and blocked a three-point attempt by Middleton among other highlights.

Muhammad was less pronounced in his production but also did well enough to earn praise from Middleton after the game.

“C-Wood and Bazz, they’re competing for a roster spot and you could tell by the way they played,” Middleton said. “They were everywhere.”

Noise, noise, noise

Saturday’s event was billed as sold out since the Bucks dispersed their full allotment of free tickets. Fiserv Forum was far from full, though, with some fans opting to stay home.

However, even though the crowd was limited to only part of the lower bowl, the arena got deafeningly loud at court level, especially after the game when players were throwing T-shirts and other prizes into the crowd.

With the design of the building redirecting much of the sound to the court, players are looking forward to the home-court advantage they’ll get from the fans, especially when the stands are full.