Milwaukee Bucks Grades, Reactions to 90-88 Win Over Portland Trailblazers
Mandatory Credit: Jeff Hanisch-USA TODAY Sports
Reactions: The Good
- Good MCW exists. Here he is doing a LOT of good by first forcing a jump ball, winning the jump ball, and then finding Monroe for the easy go-ahead layup. There’s a good chance to Bucks lose if he doesn’t turn up big in all three of those key moments. Mayo and Henson are the heroes from this game–but there are no heroes if MCW didn’t pave the way for them.
- Passing continues to live! The Bucks weren’t necessarily sharp, but they did pass the ball with aplomb, racking up 22 assists on 30 made field goals. That’s roughly 74%. The Bucks are actually one of the league’s best teams in APG–sixth, with 23 per game. We’ll ignore the assist to turnover ratio for now (turn the page if you can’t wait), and focus on the Buck’s very crisp ball movement. Like on this play, which went from Mayo to Parker to Monroe for the easy layup.
- Though not quite there yet, the Bucks defense is starting to do some really good things. They forced six turnovers in the first 9:27 of the game, surging to a 21-12 lead. And that ragged three point defense? Portland shot just 1-15 from three in the first half, and 8-34 overall.
- And of course–John Henson’s biggest moment of the season.
Next: Reactions: The Bad