Milwaukee Bucks: 3 Takeaways from the 123-91 win over the Orlando Magic
By Ben Rauman
Defense converting to offense
After ceding a 20-7 run to start the game, the Bucks’ defense picked up and held the Magic to just 91 points while dominating the glass with a 58-40 advantage.
The Bucks outscored the Magic 27-18 in points off turnovers and claimed a ridiculous 36-2 advantage in fast break points for the game.
The warm Orlando weather must have energized the Bucks after a sluggish outing in Boston in which they mustered just seven fast break points.
Last season, the team ranked sixth in fast break points with 17.7 per game. With a superstar in Giannis Antetokounmpo who dominates the fast break and a quick, bulldozing point guard in Eric Bledsoe, it is clear the Milwaukee Bucks are at their best when they get out and run in transition.
In Orlando, the duo combined for 19 of the team’s 36 transition points for the evening.
This is only possible if the Bucks’ do their work early on the defensive end and secure rebounds, something they did quite well Friday night. The team recorded a defensive rating of just 88.3 and held the Magic to a FG% of just 37.4.
Their 34-point advantage in fast break points was very much key to their 32-point victory in Orlando.
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Next up, the Bucks will travel north for an Eastern Conference Finals rematch against the 4-1 Toronto Raptors at 7 P.M. CST.