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

Second unit shambles

The Milwaukee Bucks are dead last in the NBA in bench points per game, and they only brought that output down even further with a dismal performance on Monday night.

Malcolm Brogdon scored 10 points and worked incredibly hard to provide some kind of second unit spark, meaning the blame certainly doesn’t lie with the reigning Rookie of the Year.

The other three players to come in off the bench were Jason Terry, DeAndre Liggins and Thon Maker, with only Terry managing to score a single field goal out of that group.

Without even being one of the best nights the Celtics’ second unit are capable of, the Bucks were up against it as in a game they lost by 11 points, they were outscored 24-12 in terms of bench points.

Although Terry, Liggins and Maker can be asked to combine for more than two points, asking them for much more would be unrealistic. Matthew Dellavedova and Mirza Teletovic‘s absences are certainly hurting Milwaukee’s second unit at the moment, but that isn’t reason enough to not try something different either.

With the Bucks going small at center, why not give D.J. Wilson some minutes at the 5 to see if he could chip in with a few points? Likewise, isn’t Sterling Brown deserving of an opportunity to show what he can do in comparison to a group that clearly has little to offer in terms of scoring?

If the Bucks want to hold their own when their starters sit, they’re going to have to take greater risks with the players they bring in to that second unit.