Milwaukee Bucks: 3 takeaways from 130-110 loss to New York Knicks

Takeaway No. 1 – Defending the perimeter remains the Bucks’ Achilles’ heel

While the Bucks struggled to find any rhythm offensively from long-distance, the Knicks had no such issue. Every shot they heaved seemed destined to go in, and indeed, the Knicks finished the game having shot 16-for-27 from the perimeter, an incredible 59.3 percent in their upset over the Bucks.

Nights like these are nothing new for Milwaukee as opponents have taken advantage of their defensive scheme that allows shooters to get their shots from distance for two years now. It has been a common theme over Budenholzer’s reign, and it appears that nothing has changed three games into his third season with the franchise.

Now, the Bucks will have their hands full trying to slow down their opponent’s shooting as they will travel south to take on the Miami Heat in back-to-back games this coming week. The Heat, of course, were one of the best 3-point shooting teams in the league last season, and that paved the way for them to dismantle the Bucks in the second round of the postseason only a few months ago.

Miami’s dynamic shooting will be difficult to contain for Milwaukee, but nevertheless, slowing them down from behind the arc will be pivotal in this two-game stretch. Hopefully, Budenholzer has learned from the error of his ways and devises a scheme to limit triples, but that might just be wishful thinking.

The Bucks will now travel down to South Beach to play the first game in a back-to-back series against the Heat Tuesday night at the American Airlines Arena.