Milwaukee Bucks: 3 takeaways from 128-115 loss to Memphis Grizzlies
The start to the Milwaukee Bucks‘ four-game homestand was a rough one as they fell to the Memphis Grizzlies 128-115 at Fiserv Forum Saturday night.
The shootout-like pace was set early after the opening tip as the Bucks and Grizzlies got off to nice starts offensively. Soon enough, the problem of being able to slow down and stave off Memphis’ stellar offensive play and production became the Bucks’ biggest problem and one that they couldn’t find the answer to.
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Unfortunately, the Bucks spent the vast majority of the night trying to make any leadway in slowing down the Grizzlies, who showed no signs of a team playing on the second night of a back-to-back. And that all left with the Bucks eventually seeing their three-game win streak come to a quick end.
So without further ado, let’s look at the three biggest takeaways from the Milwaukee Bucks’ loss to the Memphis Grizzlies from Saturday night.
Turnovers stacked up for Milwaukee Bucks in loss to Grizzlies
The Bucks’ growing penchant for turning over the ball continued once again Saturday night, especially as they crumbled to make plays in the face of Memphis’ defensive pressure on handoffs and traps.
Milwaukee finished the night with 16 turnovers and the Grizzlies pounced and were clinical on each and every miscue they forced or the Bucks inflicted upon themselves. Memphis finished the night with 24 points off turnovers, which keeps in line with their league-leading ranking in that department.
Full credit goes to the Memphis’ suffocating and in-sync defense for making life hard on the Bucks’ leading shot creators such as Giannis Antetokounmpo, Khris Middleton and Jrue Holiday. That trio accounted for nine of their 16 total turnovers on the night.
The fact, though, that has been a growing trend for the Bucks since the All-Star break grows increasingly worrisome. Per NBA.com/stats, Milwaukee’s 14.3 turnover ratio ranks 22nd since the All-Star break and while injuries and absences have attributed to some of that noise, the Bucks have to rein in on their sloppiness on the ball.