Recharging their batteries
Short break gives Bucks an opportunity to relax
The sounds coming from the Milwaukee Bucks' practice session on Thursday were loud, but they didn't sound like a normal practice, especially toward the end.
There were no whistles and not a lot of bouncing balls, but there were collective oohs and ahhs, some cheering and a couple of loud outbursts. Behind closed doors, there were also a lot more shooters on the court than usual.
In a bit of a change-up heading into Friday's 7 p.m. game against the Oklahoma City Thunder, the Bucks closed
practice with the whole staff – coaches, members of the front office, medical and training staff, video coordinators and players alike – hoisting halfcourt shots. It's not something totally new for the Bucks, but it was different for Marvin Williams, a 15-year veteran in his first month with the team.
“I've never had an opportunity where the entire organization, like from the training staff to strength staff, coaching staff, players, everybody had a chance to shoot," Williams said with a laugh.
Thursday's practice, which included extensive film work followed by about 10 or 20 minutes of on-court work followed by the half-court shots, was representative of the Bucks' focus on working smarter instead of just working hard. It was also emblematic of their willingness to have fun.
Amid a tough schedule, coach Mike Budenholzer determined Thursday's physically-lighter practice was what his team needed.
“It certainly felt like a gift to have two days after the back-to-back, an overtime game in Washington and then obviously a tough, competitive game in Toronto," Budenholzer said. "Just keeping them in a good, relaxed place and understanding what's important and when it's important.”
Despite having the best record in the NBA at 50-8, the Bucks don't take themselves too seriously, at least not all the time. They mock wrestle in the hallways before games, rehearse bench celebrations and handshakes and rib each other in the locker room virtually all the time. They don't get too far up and they never get down.
That's been par for the course over the past season and a half, dovetailing with Budenholzer's arrival as coach and Milwaukee's ascent to the top of the league record-wise. At 60 wins, the Bucks owned the NBA's best record last year and are on pace for 71 wins this time around.
The culture they've set has something to do with that.
“For one, I think we've got a good, winning culture here," point guard Eric Bledsoe said. "Everybody knows what it takes. We've got a great coaching staff that demands a lot of things of us each and every night. As long as we do that and have fun with the game we'll be fine.”
Williams, who heard from the outside that the Bucks had a looseness about them as well as a cohesive team dynamic, definitely wasn't expecting what he's encountered since signing in Milwaukee on Feb. 10. He thought the best team in the NBA was going to be buttoned up and dialed in a lot more than Bucks have been.
They certainly know how to focus and work hard, Williams says, but he thought that would be an all-the-time thing.
“I just didn't expect the best team in the NBA to be this relaxed," he said. "It's really fun, man. I think they do a great job of keeping things loose. Obviously, when 7 o'clock comes they're all about business and that's what I love the most . ...
“An NBA season becomes a grind for anybody, whether you're the best team or the worst team. It's just difficult each and every day to get up and compete at a high level. So, I think when you're doing a great job of keeping things kind of loose, that mental grind doesn't wear on you as much, especially this late in the season.”
For Budenholzer, the lead strategist behind the Bucks' overall practice structure, he has the tough job of managing the physical and mental grind of the season as well as morale. He believes and hopes that – in its own, strange way – the Bucks' ability to stay loose and relax makes it easier for them to dial things up when the time comes.
Maybe the ability to shift into gear is easier than trying to maintain a high level of intensity and focus over a long period of time.
But as much as Budenholzer deserves the credit, he reflects it right back at his team. To a man, everyone on the roster sets the culture and makes it work by embracing the plan and one another, something that's particularly true when it comes to star Giannis Antetokounmpo.
"I think the makeup of the players and your best player lots of times sets the tone for how things are going to be run day-to-day and how it's going to function," Budenholzer said. "I think it's one of the great things about Giannis, how competitive he is, how focused he is come game time and come practice time. But he also has a great spirit and a great attitude and he's funny and he laughs at himself, all those things that just are important to a day, to a team, to how you approach life.”
Injury update
Bucks wing Kyle Korver has missed the team's past five games and has been out of the lineup since Feb. 10 due to a sore back. His return date is still unknown, but he will not play Friday against the Thunder.
“The latest is I think we'll know a little bit more very soon today or tomorrow morning," Budenholzer said. "I think (there's) still a little bit of evaluation going on. Hoping, again, it's the same as what we've been, short-term."