Milwaukee Bucks: 3 defensive trends worth monitoring at quarter mark
At 11-7, the Milwaukee Bucks are still a work in progress at this stage in the 2020-21 season.
The bulk of that work can certainly be seen on the defensive end where their identity has come from under Mike Budenholzer over the last two regular seasons. To this point, though, the Bucks have fallen short of the mark on this side of the ball.
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Per NBA.com/stats, the Bucks have a 109.7 defensive rating through their first 18 games this season, which is quite the precipitous drop off from the 102.5 defensive rating they set over the course of last year.
As we’re clearly in uncharted waters on this front, let’s look at some of the more notable trends that have emerged from the Bucks’ defensive play this season.
The Milwaukee Bucks continue limiting transition points.
The Bucks made a big bet in regards to changing their system on both ends of the floor. But they still have looked to marry the tenets and principles that have been dear to Budenholzer over his time in Milwaukee.
That comes down to simple stuff like limiting opponents in getting easy points in transition. Milwaukee are allowing 8.9 opposing fast break points per game this season, a mark that only trails the league-leading Oklahoma City Thunder.
Not only is that much improved from the mark the Bucks set last season at 13.6 opposing fast break points per game, but it’s notable for the fact that it has come with the Bucks putting a greater emphasis on offensive rebounding this season,
The addition of the dunker spot in the Bucks’ offensive system has opened up more opportunities for the Bucks to extend offensive possessions, which has led to them having a 29.3 offensive rebounding percentage on the year.
The fact that the Bucks have been able successfully incorporate their high-level offensive rebounding while not sacrificing their ability to get back and defend in transition is certainly a high mark that Budenholzer will look to maintain as the year goes along.