"We're going to play a very physical brand of basketball this year," Kyle Kuzma told reporters after the Milwaukee Bucks had some eventual practices over the weekend. "I think that's just our emphasis right now, being able to be physical and obviously always play without fouling. I think definitely just a smidge, we struggled a little bit." The Milwaukee Bucks need an infusion of physicality from everyone.
Bucks must get back to being a physical defensive team
Once the Milwaukee Bucks acquired Damian Lillard and fired Mike Budenholzer, they lost their edge defensively, particularly from a physical standpoint. While Jrue Holiday wasn't a perfect defender near the end of his Bucks tenure, he still had the build to give players of all sizes trouble. Role players such as Wesley Matthews and Jevon Carter also provided needed support on the perimeter.
Over the last two years, the Milwaukee Bucks have tried to play physical defense, but they've tried to do so with players who don't really fit the mold. While Lillard put in effort, it never fully translated. Malik Beasley was tasked with being Milwaukee's primary wing defender some nights. Relying heavily on players like this simply hurt the defense. Now, the team hopes their changes can correct that.
It all starts on the perimeter. Kuzma, despite his flaws, can get physical. AJ Green, if he can lessen the amount of fouls he picks up, should help. Ryan Rollins and Kevin Porter Jr. can provide support in the backcourt. Cole Anthony, never known as a defender, is already buying in defensively. Even players on the outskirts of the rotation, like Gary Harris and Jericho Sims, have it in them to be physical.
Kuzma himself must back up his claims, as he will be one of the team's most important defenders this entire season due to his build. At 6-foot-9, 221 lbs, he's tall and lengthy, allowing him to switch onto smaller guards and bigger forwards. Even with everything that went wrong last season, Kuzma did flex some defensive potential, and the Milwaukee Bucks need him to be a tone-setter.
Of course, though, everything starts with the two defensive leaders in Giannis Antetokounmpo and new center Myles Turner. What those two do on that side of the floor needs little introduction, but it will be crucial for them to set the tone every single night. Once they do that, everyone else will follow their lead or likely be yanked from the lineup.
It will also be up to Doc Rivers to maximize his personnel. Rivers previously admitted that he was in a bit of a predicament with giving players roles defensively that they might not have been equipped to handle due to not having many other options. Now, he does. With all of the youth, athleticism, and versatility this roster possesses, he should have no problem forming excellent defensive lineups.
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