Milwaukee Bucks: Takeaways from 151-131 win over Washington Wizards

Bud maintaining standards

In a game when the Bucks poured in over 150 points, and Middleton had his career-high, it’s not an exaggeration to say the action on the sideline was deserving of plenty of attention too.

Bucks coach Mike Budenholzer is famed for his animated reactions and exasperated looks throughout the course of the game, but Tuesday’s version was pure blockbuster.

Budenholzer was furious with the calls his team was getting from early in the first quarter, and was likely only made even more agitated by his team’s incredibly lackluster defense over the course of the contest.

That led to plenty of moments that made for great social media content, to which I’m incredibly grateful, but it also speaks to Budenholzer’s relentless focus and ability to drive his team forward.

Prior to his arrival, the Bucks were a talented team who were often plagued by inconsistency and guilty of lapses in focus. Maturity has undoubtedly played a big role in that change, but so has Budenholzer’s ability to act as a standard-setter.

In two seasons under Bud’s watch, the Bucks have won games at a phenomenal clip in a way that other really talented teams frequently struggle to emulate. There’s no night off with Budenholzer. The players are held to account for all facets of their play in every game, and he will be on the sideline showing a willingness to fight on their behalf for every call too.

At this point, in a potentially historic campaign, it’s worth highlighting just how important the reigning Coach of the Year remains to the Bucks.

The Bucks will be back in action on Friday when they face the Denver Nuggets.