Milwaukee Bucks: 3 takeaways from 121-86 Game 1 win over Detroit Pistons

The Wall

Arguably the most impressive feat in the Bucks’ performance as a team Sunday night came in their collective defending of the basket.

The Bucks endlessly smothered and stifled the Pistons at the cup on either their drives within the paint or any of the team’s big men looking to put down point-blank scores. Per NBA.com.stats, Detroit converted just 36 percent of their 25 attempted finishes at the hoop throughout the tilt.

It shouldn’t come as a surprise that veteran Bucks big man Brook Lopez loomed large in this department as he was responsible for half of the Bucks’ total eight blocks alone. Furthermore, the 30-year-old’s length and physicality led to him suffocating a couple of off target touch attempts from Maker during the third quarter.

Milwaukee’s interior defense also lent well to their edge in the rebounding department as they pulled down 54 boards, 46 defensive, to the Pistons’ 46 total rebounds (39 defensive).

It was all in a day’s work for the league’s strongest unit when it comes to defending the restricted area and the Pistons’ toothless attack without multi-time All-Star Blake Griffin will continue to be porous in his absence.