Despite a strong 3-1 start, the Milwaukee Bucks have an obvious weakness: second-chance points. The Bucks rank dead last in the NBA in the category, scoring just 9.8 per game. The closest team to them is putting up 11.4 per contest, so it isn't particularly close. There is no clear fix for this problem, but the Bucks must clean it up before it comes back to bite them.
Bucks need to capitalize when given extra looks
One point to hammer home for the Bucks would be ramping up the pressure on the offensive glass. After all, the most blatant reason they rank dead last in second-chance points is because they also rank last in offensive rebounds per game (8.3). Doc Rivers could go to the team and say, "Guys, we need to crash the offensive glass," but it's not quite that simple.
The team has made it clear that they want to shoot 3-pointers at a high rate this season, which leads to players being camped out on the perimeter often. Even if they attack the glass after a miss, it is far too late to have a chance at an offensive rebound. If they focus more on getting boards, it could hurt the 3-point approach and spacing. It's a tough one to maneuver.
That's exactly why Myles Turner doesn't have a single second-chance point on the year. While he has done some damage inside, 22 of his 38 shots have come from distance. They want him firing away on his triples rather than looking to do damage inside. Just like with Brook Lopez, it's going to hurt the team's rebounding, but open the door more for Giannis Antetokounmpo to operate inside.
One player who could truly help give the Bucks a jolt in this regard is Bobby Portis. He has always had a knack for attacking the glass and getting extra buckets. Through four games, Portis has tallied five offensive rebounds and is 1-of-3 on putback layup attempts. If he truly wants to make an impact and find his footing after a rough start, attacking the offensive glass would be a great start, especially in situations where Giannis is off the floor.
It truly will fall on the supporting cast to do more, as Giannis Antetokounmpo is doing everything he can. Even with the Bucks ranking last in both categories, Giannis is tied for eighth in the league in offensive rebounds per game and is tied for 14th in second-chance points per contest. Portis and the rest of the supporting cast need to find ways to produce when given the extra opportunities.
Stay tuned for more Milwaukee Bucks analysis.