Milwaukee Bucks: 3 takeaways from bounce back win over Detroit Pistons

It was a complete bounce-back performance from the Milwaukee Bucks against the Detroit Pistons

I’ll clarify this by saying: yes, it’s the Pistons and they are very young, inexperienced and the Bucks should have blown them out. But to paraphrase Detroit rapper Big Sean “last game they took an L, but tonight they bounced back.”

It would have been easy to see who was out, see the opponent and then a) rest Giannis and b) take the night off as a team against a bad team (no offense, Pistons fans). But that’s not what they did! They took it to them tonight from the beginning and bounced back after a rough homestand.

They shot nearly 46 percent from 3 (17-of-37) and did what they do best on defense which is contesting shots at the rim. Per Cleaning the Glass, the Pistons shot 44 percent at the rim (11-of-25) and the Bucks made it hard on them all night with eight total blocks.

The role players got going, even Semi Ojeleye got on the board for his first points as a Buck (although he’s still looking for his first 3-point make), and the starters didn’t even have to overexert themselves with Giannis playing the most minutes at 26.

This is exactly what you wanted to see from the Bucks is stepping on the necks of a team that they should beat, even if they were severely undermanned. They’re a veteran team going against the fourth-youngest team in the league, so they still had the advantage.

It won’t get easier from here for the Bucks as they get a few days off before starting a stretch of six straight games against Eastern Conference playoff teams from last season, including a rematch against their Eastern Conference Finals foe; the Atlanta Hawks.

This was a good confidence builder and hopefully by Friday against the Knicks, they’ll be healthier.