The Bucks suffered their first loss of the season against the Cavs despite Giannis Antetokounmpo's best efforts.
Giannis went for a monstrous stat line of 40 points, 14 rebounds, and nine assists, but the Bucks were still unable to pull out the win. Even with Giannis’ incredible performance and solid defense against the Cavs, there was not enough firepower from the remaining Milwaukee Bucks to secure a victory.
The Bucks' roster is lacking in talent outside of Giannis
It’s no secret that the Bucks are missing an uber-talented costar to pair with Giannis. After losing Damian Lillard in the offseason, the Bucks chose to rebuild with a balanced roster full of solid pieces next to Giannis, rather than pairing him with another star. So far, this approach has paid dividends against lesser teams, but the talent difference shows against a contending squad like Cleveland.
The Cavaliers had one of the most efficient NBA offenses last season, and look to continue that trend this season, too. But the Bucks actually held them to decent splits - 45 percent from the field and 30 percent from three. In fact, the Bucks made more shots overall and more threes than the Cavs.
While Giannis was left to carry the burden of scoring and playmaking himself for the Bucks, the Cavs got star performances from two players: Donovan Mitchell and Evan Mobley. Both eclipsed 20 points in the victory and were able to create offense for themselves. Keep in mind that the Cavs were missing fellow All-Star Darius Garland.
The Bucks' supporting cast has been great at converting the opportunities afforded to them by Giannis. But at a certain point, they will need to step up and create their own offense too. In the playoffs, the Bucks will inevitably face teams with talent like the Cavs, and need more from non-Giannis players to advance.
One of the Bucks’ lone sources of self-created offense is Bobby Portis. Unfortunately, Portis seems to have lost a step and had an especially horrid game against the Cavs. He led the team in turnovers while playing just 23 minutes, which certainly helped contribute to the close loss.
Giannis looks better than ever to kick off the young season. His 36 points, 16 rebounds, and seven assists per game through the first week are nearly unheard of in the entire history of the NBA. But now more than ever, the NBA is a team sport that depends on contributions throughout the team. Even Giannis cannot do it all himself.
If the Bucks hope to build a true contender, they will need more top-end talent next to Giannis. Whether that’s someone else on the roster emerging as a force or consolidating talent through a trade, the front office will have to find an upgrade one way or another.