Milwaukee Bucks Defense Has Been Impressive During 8-0 Start

By: Melo Williams

The Milwaukee Bucks are 8-0 and off to their best start in franchise history after a 115-102 victory over the Minnesota Timberwolves on Friday night at the Target Center.

Milwaukee had opened the season 7-0, matching the 7-0 best season-opening starts of the 2018-19 and 1971-1972 teams. Tonight, Giannis Antetokounmpo and Co. rewrote Bucks season-opening starts history to 8-0.

Though Milwaukee has been struggling somewhat offensively without Khris Middleton, they’ve been finding other ways to win. The Bucks have put more focus on offensive rebounding, creating turnovers with points from those turnovers, and playing really good defense.

The Bucks is shooting 45.7% (22nd) from the field and 34.0% (22nd) from the three. 13th overall in scoring, averaging 114 points per game. 15th overall in scoring with 113.0 points a night.

Offensive rebounding has been very key to the Bucks 8-0 start this season. Through eight games, the Bucks are seventh in offensive rebounding percentage, grabbing 30.5 percent of their misses. Second chance points are positive for any team but very deflating for opposing teams. The Bucks are 8th in rebounds overall in the league.

Defense is where the Bucks are excelling at. Milwaukee has the lowest defensive rating by a team, with a 101.5 rating. The Bucks is also in the top ten in the league for blocks with 53. Jevon Carter has been taking full advantage of All-Star Khris Middleton sitting out, still making his way back from wrist surgery. Carter has quickly earned a role in the Milwaukee Bucks’ rotation and has been a pesky defender with his hustle and tenacity on the defensive end of the floor.

Carter is averaging 3.9 points, 2.4 rebounds, and 1.7 assists in just under 24 minutes per game. Jevon is also averaging 1.9 steals per game, putting him in the top 10 in steals in the league while leading the Milwaukee Bucks in steals.

With the absence of Middleton, Pat Connaughton, and Joe Ingles, Carter has played significant minutes over the past month and has gained the trust of the team.

A backcourt of Carter and Jrue Holiday creates a lot of defensive pressure, specifically on-ball defense that has led to points from steals.

Brook Lopez has put the league on notice when it comes to defense. Lopez is leading the NBA in blocks with 3.0 blocks per game. The big man asserted himself as one of the best rim protectors in the NBA over the past few years, and he has been outstanding through eight games this season.

Mike Budenholzer said regarding Lopez’s defensive efforts, “He’s really changing the game in the paint. We’ve asked him to do even more this year; he’s embraced it. Credit to him, as he’s got a great feel for timing for where to be and how to contest and block shots and still rebound. He’s been really good for us defensively.”

Lopez has been nothing short of dominant for the Bucks to start the season. He’s healthy after battling through a significant injury last season. Not only has he been dominant on the defensive end, but he has helped put points on the board as well. Through eight games, Brook Lopez is averaging 13.8 points, 7.0 rebounds with the 3 blocks per night.

The most underrated player in the league, Jrue Holiday, has been cooking in the last four games of the eight game winning streak. Via StatMuse Jrue’s last four games, numbers are:

34 PTS | 12 AST | 3 3P
25 PTS | 10 AST | 5 3P
26 PTS | 7 REB | 4 3P
29 PTS | 8 REB | 4 3P

So far this season, Jrue Holiday has increased his averages in points, rebounds, and assists. With averages of 21.3 points, 5.6 rebounds, and 7.4 assists while nearly averaging 2 steals per game, Holiday is establishing himself as one of the best two-way players in the league, and that is why he can’t be overlooked anymore.

Last but not least because his play and leadership has been very instrumental to the undefeated start for the Bucks, but Bobby Portis has been playing lights out like an All-Star. Bobby P has embraced the sixth-man role fully and has averages of 13.5 points and 10.0 rebounds. Portis would probably be the early-on favorite for Sixth Man of the Year.

Antetokounmpo had scored 30 or more points in six consecutive games heading into Friday’s matchup versus the Timberwolves, but that streak ended. The trade-off was Giannis recorded his first triple-double of the season and his 30th career triple-double with 26 points, 14 rebounds, and 11 assists, passing Grant Hill (29) for 17th all-time in triple-doubles.

“I’m happy that the team is winning, but that’s like second,” Antetokounmpo said. “I’m happy that the team is building good habits. I’m happy that we can be good even if we don’t make shots, that it doesn’t affect us. We still play hard; we still move the ball. Guys are not talking about themselves; we talk to one another. We are in a very good place.”

Giannis is off to a blazing start this season. It’s very early to talk about MVP candidates, but if the conversation were to occur right now, the Greek Freak would be number one on the list, hands down. Antetokounmpo is averaging 32.6 points, 12.9 rebounds, 5.8 assists with 1.5 blocks a night. 1 triple-double, 6 consecutive games with 30 points is very dominant and beyond MVP standards.

The Bucks haven’t had the toughest schedule so far but got key important wins against other top Eastern Conference contenders, including the Philadelphia 76ers, Brooklyn Nets, Atlanta Hawks, and now a significant win against the possible playoff-contending Minnesota Timberwolves. The next five teams on the schedule for the Bucks are 11/5 vs OKC, 11/7 at Atlanta, 11/9 at OKC, 11/11 at San Antonio, and home 11/14 versus Atlanta.

Giannis posted the caption on his Twitter “The best start in franchise history is just another step. We keep building.” Stay tuned to see how long Giannis Antetokounmpo and the Milwaukee Bucks can continue building off their hot 8-0 start playing defensive championship-level winning basketball as the 2022-2023 NBA season progresses. Once the Bucks get fully healthy, they will show why they’re the best team in the NBA and why we should expect to see them in the 2023 NBA Finals.