Milwaukee Bucks: Takeaways from 104-100 win over Detroit Pistons

Stifling Detroit’s shooting

Lots of factors went into Wednesday’s win against Detroit, although nothing was more important than the defense Milwaukee played against the Pistons. While the Pistons, did manage to score 100 points, the defense was far better than that all game.

Milwaukee held Detroit to under 42 percent shooting, far below league average, while perhaps even more impressively holding them to 33.3 percent three-point shooting.

The Pistons knew the gameplan coming into Milwaukee. Early in the game Detroit shot multiple threes, and it appeared the scouting report encouraged the Pistons to let it fly. The Bucks responded, Milwaukee’s pressure on the perimeter was consistent, daring the Pistons to drive inside where the Bucks’ length could swarm ball-handlers.

With Milwaukee’s aggressive style, one thing that becomes more important than with most other teams is help-side defense. The Bucks executed this to perfection on Wednesday, constantly sliding over to swat away lobs, deter drives, and cause late shot-clock heaves.

The defense is still not consistent. At times the Bucks can give up frustratingly wide-open looks. However, take the victories where you can find them and be happy the Bucks’ defense came to play on Wednesday night.

Next: Win In 6 Podcast #166: Bucks at the quarter season mark

The Bucks return to action on Friday night at 7pm CT as they’ll host the Dallas Mavericks.