Milwaukee Bucks Grades, Reactions From 100-88 Loss to N.Y. Knicks
Thanks to a listless effort on both sides of the ball the Milwaukee Bucks were handled by the New York Knicks 100-88.
Guess what? There was another Wisconsin sports team active on the East Coast Sunday night. But unlike their football playing friends up north, the Milwaukee Bucks were unable to find their mojo as the game progressed.
In fact, whatever magic was working early in the game (buoyed by strong Jabari Parker play) faded midway through the first quarter. Parker helped the Bucks build a 14-8 lead, scoring eight points in the first six minutes.
But the Knicks, to the surprise of the Bucks (evidently), are a decent team–and with solid play from their stars (Carmelo Anthony and Robin Lopez) built a 22-18 lead of their own.
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The two teams traded the lead a handful of times throughout the second quarter. But a 14-4 Knicks run to end the period left the Bucks hanging their heads as they went to the locker room.
The third quarter proved equally futile for the Bucks as the Knicks lead ballooned to 22 points by the end of the quarter.
Milwaukee reduced New York’s lead to just eleven points midway through the fourth, but baskets from Jose Calderon and Carmelo Anthony ended Milwaukee’s comeback hopes.
It was the sort of game that reminds you exactly where the Bucks are in their long-term development–a long way out.
Just when the Bucks build confidence by beating a good team in the Mavericks, they drop the ball against the beatable Knicks.
It’s hard to preach patience–especially when the supposed future of the franchise (Giannis and Jabari) are taking a back seat to Middleton and Monroe.
For now it’s about appreciating the bright spots, in whatever form they come, and bottling that optimism for when the season ends and all we have left is faith in their potential.
The trick is keeping the faith. Despite knowing that for now, the Bucks will continue to struggle.
For more coverage on their most recent setback check out our Milwaukee Bucks grades and reactions from their 100-88 loss to the Knicks.
Next: Reactions: The Good