Milwaukee Bucks: Every fan’s worst nightmare came true in Game 1
By Michael Wood
Milwaukee Bucks displayed not one or two of their flaws in Game 1, but all of them. The game was a nightmare to watch for Bucks fans.
The Milwaukee Bucks’ first quarter in Game 1 was probably their best quarter since the restart of the season. Their fans finally saw the team they rooted for all season perform at a level we were accustomed to before the bubble. However, true Bucks fans may have also seen that first quarter as fool’s gold. After their 40 point opening quarter, could the Bucks keep up this high level of play?
No. In fact, the next three quarters became nightmarish in that it showcased every anxiety we have about our team. Every anxiety-filled fear that Bucks fans have about the team came to fruition. The fear that has been in the back of our minds all season. Literally. Every single one. Not one or two – all of them.
All of the team’s flaws in three nightmarish quarters made the game’s final outcome feel inevitable.
Even Bucks legend and broadcaster Marques Johnson tweeted out his own ominous feeling:
Feel like this game is slipping away. Butler putting his aggressive stamp on things.
— Elder Marques Johnson (@olskool888) September 1, 2020
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Below is a list of fears that almost all Bucks fans certainly harbor, even if they found ways to optimistically ignore them until the playoffs. Unfortunately, all of them played a role in the loss in Game 1.
1. Coach Budenholzer’s use (overuse/misuse?) of his bench players along with his troubling substitution patterns.
Pat Connaughton over Wes Matthews at crunch time in the fourth? Khris Middleton and George Hill (who in Game 1 really couldn’t stop anybody) got obliterated by Jimmy Butler. Matthews could have been guarding him, and it could have made all the difference.
2. Giannis Antetokounmpo and his inability to shoot free throws.
It was a major issue last year in the playoffs. All Bucks fans knew it would be a problem again. Still, 4-of-12 was still unexpectedly bad from the Bucks’ superstar at the stripe.
3. The mental fortitude of Giannis is strikingly troublesome for a soon to be two-time MVP.
Once Giannis airballs a free throw, Bucks fans know it will be an adventure every time he goes to the line. If Antetokounmpo gets some bad calls against him by the referees, the mental frustration illuminates his face. Particularly given the kind of attention he gets from opposing defenses, Giannis needs to make sure he takes a deep breath and resets himself when moments don’t go his way.
4. The lack of respect Giannis gets from officials.
Can the soon-to-be two-time MVP get a foul call? Or get some respect when a fake travel is called against him in the fourth? Or a dunk in the fourth that should have been an and-1? Not that he would make the free throw, but Giannis deserves the benefit of the doubt as a top player. The fact that Bam Adebayo got away with a play on Giannis that would have been called an offensive foul 100 times out of 100 with the roles reversed said it all.
5. Giannis’ half court struggles.
He is the MVP. He is a top-5 talent in the NBA. But, Giannis’ lack of a go-to move in the half court, slowed-down pace of playoff basketball is problematic. There have been plenty of flashes of counters over the years, but Giannis needs to show greater conviction in going to them and taking charge of these scenarios.
6. Turnovers!
Enough said. Some of the passes in the game would make a middle school basketball coach pull players from the game. Even worse, the Bucks’ habit of giving the ball over in live ball situations gifted Miami a lot of points.
7. The incredible disappearing act of Middleton.
In the first half, he was unstoppable. In the second half, Bucks fans weren’t sure if Khris Middleton was still playing. This disappearing act: coming to an arena near you in Game 2.
8. Comeback doubts.
If a game is close in the fourth quarter, Bucks fans are not optimistic. Has this team shown the ability to come back when down late in the fourth? When Butler hit his triple to make it 104-98, didn’t we all know it was game over?
9. Jimmy Butler: The closer.
Watching Jimmy Butler dismantle the Bucks and the Bucks then going down to the offensive side and passing the ball around the perimeter with no offensive movement/scheme whatsoever was soul sucking. They literally looked like deer in headlights. The Buck’s lack of a closer on offense should truly scare Bucks fans.
10. The battle of the boards.
This is something new, so it’s not really a fear. It’s more a case of what just happened. Somebody needs to grab a defensive rebound. The Heat had too many offensive rebounds, and considering this has been a real strength for the Bucks over the past two seasons, it was particularly disappointing.
Next. 3 things to watch for in Game 2 against Miami Heat. dark
Bucks’ fans would be ecstatic if only a few of these team flaws showed up in Game 2, or ever again in a playoff game for that matter. If say, only half of these issues rear their head again, Bucks’ fans can expect a victory in Game 2.