3 Biggest concerns from Bucks' first 3 games and how to fix them

3. Turnovers

These all feel like really basic things the Bucks need to work on, but they have all caused massive issues. Turnovers against the Nets were just diabolical from start to finish. They had three in the first five minutes, seven in the first quarter and 10 by halftime. They finished the game with 18 turnovers.

Giannis Antetokounmpo and Damian Lillard led with four, which doesn't sound horrific, but when almost everyone on the team is turning the ball over, it is an issue. Bobby Portis didn't in his 27 minutes and neither did Jackson, AJ Johnson and Tyler Smith, but those three only played three minutes. Everyone else had at least one giveaway.

Across their three games, the Bucks are averaging 15.7 turnovers per game, which does have them 16th in the league. What is apparent is the other contending teams are already taking much better care of the ball. The Boston Celtics, Dallas Mavericks, Oklahoma City Thunder, New York Knicks, LA Lakers and Denver Nuggets are all within the top 10 for least turnovers and average 13 or less.

Again, this is reflected defensively, with the Milwaukee Bucks forcing the third least turnovers per game, so it is another concern on both sides of the ball. This could be a schematic issue of not putting enough pressure on opponents but also an individual issue of the Milwaukee Bucks players not being secure in their possession of the basketball.

Not wanting to single him out, but Lillard is averaging four turnovers per game, worse than any of his other seasons in the NBA. Of course, we are only three games in, but it is clear that better care of the ball needs to be taken.

To turn this around offensively, it is just a matter of the players not being sloppy but also not letting it compound to where multiple turnovers occur in quick succession. Offensively, they may need to be smarter in getting people open and not creating opportunities for teams to steal the ball. Defensively, again, it may well be worth playing more of the younger, energetic guys to hound opponents and force them into making mistakes.

We are only three games into the season, but there are clear things for the Milwaukee Bucks to work on, and they have been apparent in all their games. They have a long way to go, but things need to be addressed before they become a real problem.

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