Milwaukee Bucks Grades and Reactions From 92-91 Loss to the Detroit Pistons
The Bucks played well enough to win, but in pure Milwaukee Bucks fashion they gave up a lead in the fourth quarter, falling to the Pistons 92-91.
We’ve seen the overarching themes of this Milwaukee Bucks season. By this point we know them very well. We know that the Bucks bench is going to underwhelm, and we know that three-point shooting will always be problematic.
Both of those weaknesses were brought to the forefront as the Milwaukee Bucks fell to the Detroit Pistons 92-91.
Things started well enough for the Bucks–using their starting five for virtually the entire opening period, tallying a 13 point advantage in the process.
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The bench played surprisingly well in the second quarter–haemorrhaging just four points off the Bucks first quarter lead before Jabari Parker and Giannis Antetokounmpo returned with 5:31 remaining in the half.
Even newcomer Jared Cunningham played assertive basketball–taking shots with confidence and proving a useful part of the offense.
Following the break the Bucks starters came out and provided another surge–taking as much as a 123 point lead before settling for a nine point advantage heading into the fourth.
But once again the Bucks bench, given the opportunity, struggled to hold the team’s advantage–forfeiting another four points from the Bucks lead by mid-quarter.
A pair of Pistons threes brought the Bucks lead down to just two before Khris Middleton took it upon himself to stretch the lead out to five with less than two minutes left.
But the Pistons just wouldn’t go away.
Down one they sent the usual accurate Jerryd Bayless to the line with just :09 remaining.
He missed both.
This gave the ball back to the Pistons who (barely missed drawing a five second violation) missed a three pointer, but had Andre Drummond under the basket ready to convert the go-ahead layup.
Those with a critical eye will ask why on earth Giannis Antetokounmpo drew the assignment of blocking out Andre Drummond.
It’s bewildering.
Regardless of blown assignments, the Bucks are headed to Cleveland with a fresh loss on their record, with both positives and negatives to build on from their loss in Detroit.
We explore them all in our Milwaukee Bucks grades and reactions.
Next: Reactions: The Good