Behind the Bucks Pass
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Milwaukee Bucks: 3 things to watch for in visit to Sacramento Kings

By Jordan Treske

SACRAMENTO, CA - FEBRUARY 27: Eric Bledsoe #6 of the Milwaukee Bucks faces off against Buddy Hield #24 of the Sacramento Kings on February 27, 2019 at Golden 1 Center in Sacramento, California. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2019 NBAE (Photo by Rocky Widner/NBAE via Getty Images)
SACRAMENTO, CA - FEBRUARY 27: Eric Bledsoe #6 of the Milwaukee Bucks faces off against Buddy Hield #24 of the Sacramento Kings on February 27, 2019 at Golden 1 Center in Sacramento, California. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2019 NBAE (Photo by Rocky Widner/NBAE via Getty Images) /
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SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA – JANUARY 08: (Photo by Thearon W. Henderson/Getty Images)
SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA – JANUARY 08: (Photo by Thearon W. Henderson/Getty Images) /

Stuck in second gear

Perhaps it’s a dose of a midseason malaise, but the Bucks’ road trip hasn’t got off to a rousing start by any means.

First, the Bucks were handed a rare loss by the Spurs earlier in the week, which doubled as the largest defeat they have suffered this season. And while they were able to bounce back over the Warriors Wednesday night, it was far from a reassuring effort that all Bucks fans wanted to see following their sixth defeat of the season.

It’s been their offense that has looked unlike the third-best offense in the NBA and that could be explained by the subpar shooting they’ve endured through like going 9-of-41 from downtown against Golden State. Between that and their night in San Antonio, some of their worst shooting performances of the season have come on this road trip by effective field goal percentage standards.

Naturally, the Bucks’ offensive struggles were a topic of conversation following their win over the Warriors and the contrasting responses given to Matt Velazquez of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel are interesting to parse. First, here’s how head coach Mike Budenholzer elaborated on the Bucks’ offensive woes:

"“I don’t think, offensively, we were great either game,” he said. “It felt like in San Antonio maybe a little bit better, maybe just didn’t make some good looks, but both games we’re just not playing with the pace or the force or the movement and we’ve got to shoot it a little better, too.”"

Now, here’s how Bucks swingman Khris Middleton assessed the sluggish outings he and the rest of the team have had over the last two contests:

"“We all realize this was just a sloppy game from us, especially in the first half,” Middleton said Wednesday night. “You’re going to have some of those – it happened in San Antonio. There’s 82 games, so you’re going to go through it, but the thing is you have to try to find a way to work through it and keep playing. … “There’s some games like that when it’s just not going to be your night. The thing is we’re all on each other to just continue to play hard no matter the score, no matter if shots are falling or whatnot because it’s going to happen.”"

The shooting struggles are obvious points of emphasis, but the defensive gameplans the Spurs and the Warriors both executed earlier this week show that even subpar defenses can slow down the Bucks when they’re going through an off night.

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