Milwaukee Bucks: Offering up role player pep talks ahead of Game 4

How can the Milwaukee Bucks get the best out of their role players ahead of Game 4? Our resident coach delivers his pep talks ahead of the game.

If the Milwaukee Bucks are to avoid a humiliating sweep and come away with a Game 4 win to keep their incredibly faint hopes alive in their second round series, they’ll need their role players to stand up and be counted.

Through the first three games, it’s safe to say performances have been very mixed from Milwaukee’s rotation players beyond their front line stars. But that doesn’t mean that they can’t all play decisive roles in Game 4, and give the Bucks some reason to believe again beyond that.

Donte DiVincenzo

Donte, you played your damn heart out on Friday. More importantly, it was productive energy. Excellent job of moving off the ball on offense and picking your spots to attack (we’ll just say that airball was partially blocked). Defensively, keep being you. Keep making them uncomfortable. They’ve been way too comfortable on offense this series. See how physical you can get before you get called.

Offensively, when you have a good lane to attack, finish as hard as you can at the cup. Don’t worry about a charge or getting blocked or trying to pass out. You’ll only get a couple of those lanes all game, so make the most of each one. We need more than just your D, we’re going to need some buckets too, and more of that movement off ball. If we pull this thing off, we’re gonna need you on both ends.

Marvin Williams

Alright, Marv, first thing we’ll go over is offense. I’d like to see you be a little more active in setting screens as a way to get yourself open for perimeter looks. As small as Miami is playing, you don’t have to play like a 3-and-D wing. Try to play more like a pick-and-pop big man. As far as defense, excellent job crashing the boards. That’s gonna need to continue for us to come back in this series.

Overall, you’re a really calming influence for us out there. I appreciate your leadership this year. We all do. You’re allowed to yell at the guys to move off the damn ball on offense!

George Hill

George, you’re keeping us alive on offense out there. Keep making the right reads! I really want to talk more about the other side of the ball right now, though.

I need you to be a little more disruptive. In last year’s playoffs, you and I both know what kind of chaos you created out there. Use your length out there, man! Bother people! It’s not a big deal if you risk a reach-in here or there when a steal can spark a fastbreak. We need to start getting some fastbreak points, point blank. I trust you to be more handsy without getting caught every time. Everybody looks up to you. If we’re to have a shot at this, you’re gonna need to be a big reason why.

Brook Lopez

Alright, Splash, there’s really one main thing I want you to focus on being better at in Game 4: calling for the ball on the low block. I know you’ve remodeled your game the past few seasons, and we’ll still need a few of those trail threes in transition when your man is building the wall for Giannis. But in the halfcourt, especially after makes, you can stop being the good soldier and call for some postups. You’re one of the leaders on this team; nobody is going to criticize you or question you for taking advantage of mismatches. Bam is tough, but he isn’t used to defending postups. You’ll probably draw some fouls on him just from his inexperience alone.

Defensively, keep being you. But also, stay glued to Bam every time that ball is in the air until it goes on, or one of us grabs it. Box. Him. Out.

Wesley Matthews

Wes, I’ve never said this to a player before, but I’m gonna say it to you right now. If I try to take you out late tomorrow, you need to look me dead in the eyes and say: “Sorry coach. I love you and respect you as a man, but if you want me on the bench, you’re gonna have to come over here and MAKE me come off the floor.” We all hear the buzz now. “Butler is a superstar.” “Butler is better than Giannis.” Shut that down. Shut. Him. Down.

Will those messages get through to the players, and will their performances reflect the intensity and focus that’s an absolute must for Milwaukee? We’ll find out from 2.30pm CT on ABC.