Bucks are learning through losses
Nearly two months ago the two franchise players for the Milwaukee Bucks laid out a pretty direct message about what they expected out of the upcoming 72game regular season, which went beyond just winning the game in the moment.
On Dec. 21 Giannis Antetokounmpo said the team wasn't going to change its core principles of play but needed to develop a “second punch” for the postseason. In order to find that punch, and make it one that can be counted on, Khris Middleton said the goal was to “learn about ourselves and learn different ways to win ballgames because that's what it's about in the playoffs.
“You're not going to be able to win every single game the same way. I think that's the main thing we could change a little bit about how we approach the regular season.”
After a 129-115 loss to the Jazz in Utah on Friday – and heading into a game in
Oklahoma City on Sunday night – the Bucks are a winning team at 16-10. If a couple things had their way down the stretch in games at Boston, Brooklyn and Phoenix that record would look even better.
But as Antetokounmpo and Middleton said in December, it’s not about that.
It’s why after some unsatisfactory victories (like Atlanta) and especially after losses, the refrain up and down the roster is about “learning from it.”
Brook Lopez said the same thing after losing to the Jazz.
The key question is, are they actually doing it?
“Absolutely. No question,” Lopez said. “Unlike seasons past where we’ve kind of been able to cruise through a regular season a little bit, we kind of just played one way. In these games this season, we’ve really tried out a lot of different stuff. I think it’s going to benefit us come postseason.”
In other words, they’re trying out some counterpunches.
And Antetokounmpo is acutely aware of how it looks.
After all, there have been the nights on which they gave up 20 three-pointers. On which they’ve fallen behind by 20 points. They’re 3-6 against teams that currently have a winning record.
“I like though that we were making adjustments,” Antetokounmpo said Friday night. “I like that we’re open-minded now. I like that we are trying to figure out ways to mess with our opponents. I believe and I believe my coach believe and my team believes that this is gonna help us down the road. So, we all gotta believe in what we’re doing and we gotta put some effort behind it.”
He acknowledged that a team like the Jazz, winners of six straight and 17 of 18, are fun to watch and deserve the spoils of their good play. He’s been there. Sixty wins two years ago. An 18game winning streak last year.
“We want to play the best basketball we can play; not now,” he said. “I know it looks fancy and sexy, winning 16 in a row, 18 in a row. It feels good. Everybody talks about you. Best team in the NBA. All that. But you gotta play the best basketball at the end. So, me personally, that’s my mindset. That’s my mindset. I want to improve from each game.”
Again he emphasized to everyone outside the organization and through the locker room – perhaps reminded them? – what each day was about. What the mission was, laid out back in December when they first got together.
“Are we getting better? We’re getting better for sure,” Antetokounmpo said.