The Bucks are on a five-game losing streak and have dropped to 8-10, 11th place in the East. This terrible stretch has exposed the Bucks' coaching staff's weakness in adapting to changing circumstances and shifting game plans. Of course, Giannis Antetokounmpo's absence during this stretch has made things harder for the Bucks, but it is not the only cause of their dismal play.
The Bucks' coaching has cost them games
In the last two games, the Bucks' poor coaching from Doc Rivers and company has been front and center. They have thrust Ryan Rollins into a role he is not ready for, leading to a decline in his otherwise stellar efficiency. In the most recent loss against the Blazers, Rollins shot just 4-of-14 from the field while having to be an offensive focal point.
The Bucks were thriving with Giannis as the offensive centerpiece capable of breaking down defenses with his relentless drives. Whether it was finishing himself at the rim or spraying out to open shooters, Giannis was making the offense run. Rollins has shown limited flashes of potential in the same role, but it's too early to rely on him to carry an offense for multiple games in a row.
Instead, the coaching staff should shift towards a more egalitarian approach and get other players more involved in the offense. They need to get creative with their offensive sets to put all the Bucks on the court in positions to score, rather than relying on one or two players to create looks for everyone. Unfortunately, the offense has remained stagnant and continued to turn towards the pick-and-roll even without Giannis.
To make the problem even worse, the Bucks coaches haven't done a great job of staggering rotations. Rather than keeping some of their offensively talented players like Rollins, AJ Green, and Bobby Portis on the floor at all times, they have often gone with all-bench lineups. The Bucks have struggled to score efficiently when playing five bench players together because they now lack a consistent shot creator in the second unit.
Additionally, the team defense has also been inconsistent as of late. Rotations have been missed, leading to open threes and easy layups for opposing teams. Giannis is one of the team's best defenders, especially this season, so his absence does contribute to an overall decline on that end. But poor discipline and miscommunication amongst the team cannot be blamed on one missing player. Instead, the whole team, as well as the coaches, must take accountability and solve the issue.
The Milwaukee Bucks' recent skid has dropped them multiple spots in the standings. They desperately need to fix their rotations and defensive cohesion before they are too far back in the playoff picture. The changes need to start from the top with the coaching.