The Bucks vowed to be a more energetic team willing to make all of the hustle plays in the offseason, but that reality has not come to fruition. Whether it’s a lack of ability from the players or poor coaching, the Bucks have ranked poorly in most hustle stats.
The Bucks are losing the effort battle
In their most recent loss to the Wizards, this problem was magnified when Marvin Bagley III had six offensive rebounds in a close game. Bagley’s six offensive boards nearly matched the Bucks’ entire total as a team in that game (seven). He was also matched by the Wizards’ Justin Champagnie, a 6-foot-6 wing who came off the bench.
Allowing that many second-chance opportunities to a weak front line is inexcusable, and doubly infuriating when it leads to an upset loss.
The Bucks have consistently been showing less hustle than their opponents, and it’s costing them games. They are second-to-last in the NBA when it comes to hustle stats like rebounds per game and loose balls recovered. The hope of new additions like Myles Turner bringing more energy and defensive activity has proven false so far.
With their current roster, the Bucks are simply not talented enough to win many games without out hustling teams. Yes, they often have the best player in any given game, but the supporting cast around Giannis is arguably the weakest it’s ever been. Given that many of the Bucks’ role players are also on the smaller or less athletic side of the NBA, they need to be working especially hard on every possession.
The Bucks’ inability to get high effort from all their players this season has been concerning. The team needs to understand that they could be wasting a valuable opportunity with Giannis on the roster if they don’t hustle harder. If this trend keeps up, the Bucks may have to look to the trade market for another solution, whether it’s a talent upgrade or more energetic players.
There are also more active options on the Bucks bench who haven’t gotten as much playing time. For example, players like Jericho Sims and Andre Jackson Jr. consistently hustle when they’re on the court but find it hard to get much playing time. As the team’s clear weaknesses in hustle and athleticism lead to more losses, these guys may find their way to more minutes.
The Bucks’ season has quickly derailed after an optimistic offseason and a promising start. An injury to Giannis ignited a losing streak, but the other Bucks haven’t been doing enough either. Whether Giannis plays or not, the Bucks need more effort from all their players to turn this season around.