Behind the Bucks Pass
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Milwaukee Bucks: 3 things preventing success against Brooklyn Nets

By Dalton Sell

NEW YORK, NEW YORK - JUNE 05: Blake Griffin #2 of the Brooklyn Nets guards Giannis Antetokounmpo #34 of the Milwaukee Bucks during the second quarter during Game One of the Eastern Conference second round series at Barclays Center on June 05, 2021 in New York City. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Tim Nwachukwu/Getty Images)
NEW YORK, NEW YORK - JUNE 05: Blake Griffin #2 of the Brooklyn Nets guards Giannis Antetokounmpo #34 of the Milwaukee Bucks during the second quarter during Game One of the Eastern Conference second round series at Barclays Center on June 05, 2021 in New York City. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Tim Nwachukwu/Getty Images) /
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Milwaukee Bucks: Giannis Antetokounmpo, Brooklyn Nets: Mike James
NEW YORK, NEW YORK – JUNE 07 (Photo by Elsa/Getty Images) /

The Milwaukee Bucks have no answer defensively for the Brooklyn Nets

The Bucks entered a different level of defensive intensity during their first round series with the Heat just a few short weeks ago.

They boasted a defensive rating of 95.4 throughout those four games, a testament to just how stellar they were on that side of the ball. However, the sheer dominance they displayed in that series has disappeared in this second round set with Brooklyn as their defensive rating stands at 120.6 over these first two games played.

It is no secret that the Nets can score the basketball at a high level as they finished second in points per game, right behind the Bucks in the regular season. In this series, Brooklyn is averaging 120 points while shooting 49.5 percent from the field and a devastating 44.4 percent from long range. Kevin Durant and Kyrie Irving, two of the most gifted scorers to ever grace the court, have lived up the hype as they continue putting on a show versus Milwaukee’s defense. Yet, they are getting support from their role players, such as Joe Harris and Mike James, and the Bucks are yet to stop the bleeding to any extent.

These numbers also come with the Nets having 2017-18 league MVP and three-time scoring champion James Harden on the floor for just 43 seconds in this series. Although the team had gotten accustomed to playing without Harden as he missed a sizeable chunk of the regular season due to this same hamstring injury, it is disheartening to watch the Bucks get torn apart like this against a team that is not even at full strength.

Next. Milwaukee Bucks: 3 X-factors for playoff series with Brooklyn Nets. dark

With Antetokounmpo, Holiday, P.J. Tucker, and Brook Lopez all in the lineup, the Bucks have the personnel to be a formidable opponent defensively. For whatever reason, they have not slowed the Nets down to any extent, but they must buckle down in these upcoming games if they will stand a chance.

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