Milwaukee Bucks: 5 observations from first 5 games of 2021-22 season

INDIANAPOLIS, INDIANA - OCTOBER 25 (Photo by Dylan Buell/Getty Images)
INDIANAPOLIS, INDIANA - OCTOBER 25 (Photo by Dylan Buell/Getty Images) /
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Milwaukee Bucks: Thanasis Antetokounmpo, Miami Heat: Jimmy Butler
MIAMI, FLORIDA – OCTOBER 21 (Photo by Michael Reaves/Getty Images) /

No. 3: The Milwaukee Bucks’ defense is still a work in progress early on

The Bucks have been known for their defensive excellence in the Mike Budenholzer coaching era, but they have gotten off to a slow start this year.

According to NBA.com/stats, the Bucks have the 23rd best defensive rating in the NBA this year at 110.6. Obviously, playing most of their games without Holiday and Lopez has played into this as they are two quality defenders. Holiday is not only the best guard defender in the league, but he is arguably the best defender regardless of position. On the other hand, Lopez is an All-Defensive big man, having anchored this defense down low over the past several seasons. Losing those two was going to hinder this defensive success, and it has been challenging to navigate early on.

As expected, Milwaukee’s early defensive woes have reignited the conversation as to whether or not the team made the right decision regarding P.J. Tucker’s free agency. Tucker, who played in the 42-point blowout victory against the Bucks earlier this season, was a key piece defensively for the Bucks last year, and he has brought that intensity to Miami this season. Although the Bucks could surely use that defensive intensity right now, these issues have mostly been due to their in-house injuries, rather than Tucker’s absence.

Once Holiday and Lopez return, the Bucks should only get better on the defensive end, but the big question is when those two will be ready. In the meantime, they will have to look elsewhere to fill those roles defensively.