Milwaukee Bucks: Takeaways from 111-100 loss to Boston Celtics

Unnecessary defensive changes

As much as Jason Kidd wanted to pin the hole his team fell into early on in this game on a lack of effort and discipline, it was clear for all to see that the Bucks came out of the blocks with a dramatically different defensive approach than the one that led to a three-game win streak last week.

The old defense was back, as this was the same approach that allowed the Utah Jazz to pick the Bucks apart just under 10 days ago.

It’s no coincidence that another well-coached, high IQ team was able to pick apart Milwaukee’s defense on this occasion, but at the same time the Bucks just made it too easy for the Celtics.

As the Bucks looked to meet Boston at the point of attack with Giannis Antetokounmpo and an extra defender time and time again in the opening quarter of the game, the Celtics did the simple thing. With Milwaukee looking to trap everything in the open court, Boston countered the press by moving the ball.

It’s about as simple as it gets, but if a player is seeing a double team, the answer is always to move the ball and find the open man. With a lineup comprised of skilled passers and knockdown shooters, the Celtics executed around Milwaukee’s over eager defense with minimal fuss.

Speaking in the aftermath of the game, Coach Kidd again denied that there had been any change to the team’s defensive approach, or that it had been further adjusted in-game to lead to the defensive improvements of the second half.

Not only is that bordering on an insult to the intelligence of the fans watching who can clearly see the differences from game to game and quarter to quarter, but it does his players a disservice in not giving them credit for adjusting and getting back into the game, while also criticizing their effort and energy when that wasn’t even close to being the issue.

There are plenty of coaches around the NBA who would be prepared to speak openly about what they and their team did wrong, and then open themselves up to credit for making adjustments, but in passing the buck time and time again that option can’t easily be afforded to Kidd.

If he made a conscious decision to switch back to trapping for this matchup, why not come out after the game and say something like: We saw an opportunity to disrupt Boston’s flow early by targeting them out of the pick-and-roll and applying pressure to the ball-handler, but credit to the Celtics, they did what they had to and we were forced to adjust.

It’s reached a point where the Bucks’ problem arguably seem even more magnified than they are due to Kidd’s regularly puzzling interviews where he essentially asks those listening to his every word to suspend all disbelief.

As the defense falls apart at least once a week, everyone watching can see the need to adjust and the benefits when those adjustments have been made, but Kidd refuses to publicly acknowledge anything beyond effort from these defensive no-shows.

Essentially, if the room was on fire in Monday’s first quarter in Boston, Kidd took the approach of the dog in the famous “This is fine” meme.