Bucks stay hot since all-star break
The Milwaukee Bucks look like a different team since the NBA all-star break.
The Bucks were especially stingy on defense and efficient on offense in a 123-85 destruction of the Charlotte Hornets on Tuesday at Fiserv Forum.
Milwaukee (38-21) is 3-0 since the break. That ugly loss to the shorthanded Memphis Grizzlies on Feb. 15 has been left in the rear-view mirror.
“I just think it was coming,” Bucks head coach Doc Rivers said. “I think health is the biggest difference.
“Everybody’s playing other than Khris (Middleton). I think that’s one. I think our guys understand since the break we don’t have a lot of time. And so we have to get to it and our guys are starting to do that.”
Milwaukee has dominated the Hornets (15-43) this season. The Bucks’ previous largest margin of victory this season came on Feb. 9 when they beat Charlotte, 120-84. Milwaukee also won at Charlotte, 130-99, on Nov. 17.
The teams meet again in Charlotte on Thursday.
Antetokounmpo praises effort
Giannis Antetokounmpo was discouraged after that loss to the Grizzlies before the break, questioning his team’s effort and saying, “We have to want it.”
Antetokounmpo was much more upbeat sitting at his locker after beating the Hornets.
“I think we had time, six or seven days, to kind of think,” Antetokounmpo said. “What this coaching staff and what the team expects from us.
“Coming back from the break, we had the opportunity to talk about everybody’s role. And what the team expects from us. So keeping everyone accountable. I got to play better defense. I got to attack more. I got to share the ball more.
“BP (Bobby Portis) got to be aggressive. You got to play better pick-androle defense. You got to shoot the ball more. Everybody has their own role. So we got to keep everyone accountable throughout the 23 left games. Mentally, obviously, we were able to rest, take a break and also physically. It’s been a hard season for all of us. But now we’re back and we’re got to keep better.”
Antetokounmpo finished with 24 points and eight rebounds. He didn’t have to play in the fourth quarter, another plus given the Bucks play three games in four days.
Portis has another strong effort
First, Damian Lillard was hot with 14 points in the first quarter. He finished with 23 and also didn’t play in the fourth quarter.
Then, Portis scored 12 in the second as the Bucks opened up a 58-26 lead at the break.
Portis finished with 21 points. He has scored in double figures in eight straight games.
“I think guys on this team are starting to figure it out,” Portis said. “It’s not about how many points you score or how many shots you shoot.
“We’re just trying to get wins and change the narrative for everybody talking. All the outside noise.”
Bucks’ defense continues to look much improved
The biggest change in the narrative with the Bucks is on the defensive end. The Bucks have held back-to-back opponents under 100 points.
“I think it starts with our transition,” Rivers said. “Just not giving up a lot of easy baskets.
“And once we take those away, playing against our set, half-court defense with our length has worked out really well for us.”
The Hornets went scoreless for almost eight minutes in the second quarter.
“I thought we were very physical,” Rivers said. “I thought our hands were active.
“Our deflections over the last four or five games have just skyrocketed. We talked about it, like, how don’t we have a lot of deflections? We’re fast, we’re long, we should get our fingertips on a lot of balls.”
The 26 points were the second-fewest allowed by the Bucks in the first half in team history. Milwaukee gave up 25 to Philadelphia on March 3, 1972.
“This is who we are,” Antetokounmpo said. “This is who we’re trying to be.
“In the second half, I think in the late third quarter or maybe early fourth quarter, there was a play that somebody drove all the way right and everybody on the bench was up, we were up 45 points and we were upset. Like, that’s not what we do.
“That means as a team we’re building those good habits. We got to make everything tough. It doesn’t matter who we are playing, they got to get tough buckets against us.”
TEMPE, Ariz. – That mythical Cactus League title that Pat Murphy keeps mentioning – in jest, of course – is looking a little shaky at the moment.
After opening with a resounding victory Saturday, the Milwaukee Brewers dropped their third straight game, this one a 6-4 decision against the Los Angeles Angels at Tempe Diablo Stadium on Tuesday afternoon.
Sal Frelick had the lone multi-hit game for the Brewers with a triple and also scored a run and Oliver Dunn had the only other extra-base hit with a double.
Starter Janson Junk allowed a run in his lone inning of work, Hoby Milner allowed three runs (two earned) on three hits and Bryan Hudson a run on two hits with a pair of strikeouts.
“It’s fun,” manager Pat Murphy said. “We’re getting to learn a lot. A lot of good things today. It was encouraging. Willy Adames (1 for 3 with an RBI) is so eager to play, and that bodes well that one of your leaders, one of your pillars, wants to be in there in their first week of spring training.
“It’s really cool when the other guys want to get in there, too. They’re going to be in there soon.”
Three observations from Brewers-Angels
Junk made his first start of the spring against his former team, which shipped him along with Elvis Peguero and Adam Seminaris to the Brewers last offseason in exchange for Hunter Renfroe.
Junk ultimately pitched in the majors just twice for the Brewers in 2023, but now has his sights set on a more permanent stay for 2024.
“I’m doing everything I can to prove myself here and fight for a spot on the staff,” Junk said leading into his one-inning stint. He allowed a hit and a run.
“I did a little mechanical thing that I think worked out pretty well that has my velo up a few ticks,” Junk continued. “Other than that, I’m focusing on my offspeed and what I’m really good at. That was a big adjustment from last year when I focused on adding another pitch and kind of strayed away from my strengths.
“This offseason I focused on my strengths, getting my velo up, getting healthy and stronger and preparing myself for this situation here.”
Prospect Tyler Black, who’s being tried at both first and third base, made three outstanding defensive plays in addition to collecting a single.
First, he made a nice play charging in on a Mike Trout squibber down the firstbase line in the fifth inning, making the tag to retire the superstar.
Black moved to third in the sixth and recorded two outs, with both coming on the run -- the second on a bunt down the line -- and finishing with strong and accurate throws to first.
“He was great,” Murphy said. “The fact that he made two really nice plays at third, sometimes those are the plays when you just let it happen. He struggles with the routine play.”
There were also great catches made in the outfield by Frelick, who started in right, and prospect Luis Lara, who took over in center.
“Let’s hang onto him,” Murphy said of Lara.
Prospect Carlos Rodríguez was one of eight pitchers to throw a single inning, and he allowed a hit and struck a batter out.
Quotable
“He does it once a year, but it’s going to be huge – and in a huge situation,” Murphy said of Christian Yelich, who he termed a “sneaky” good bunter.
Jackson Chourio watch
Chourio did not play.
Coming up
Brewers at Rangers, 2:05 p.m. Thursday. Milwaukee RHP Joe Ross vs. Texas RHP Nathan Eovaldi. Radio – AM-620.
Wednesday: Cubs 6, Brewers 1. More at jsonline.com/brewers.