It's clear that the Milwaukee Bucks have played some poor defense lately, but in case anyone needed to hear it more clearly, Isaiah Stewart has them covered. During Milwaukee's recent matchup against the Pistons, a game in which the Bucks' defense continued to struggle, Stewart took some shots at the zone defense on display.
"It ain't really a hard zone. We've just gotta move them around. It's a grown man game. They out here playing zone. They don't want to match up against us."
Bucks don't have any answers defensively, especially without Giannis
No matter what coverage they run, the Milwaukee Bucks haven't been a good defensive team at any point this year. That is backed up by their 23rd-ranked defensive rating. Many thought the changes to make this group built around youth and athleticism would get this team back on track in that regard, but it was nothing but a false hope.
Stewart called it like it is. The Milwaukee Bucks rely so heavily on zone because they don't have the personnel to match up with many squads. Of the seven Pistons players to log double-digit points in this particular game, all but one shot above 55 percent, with four of them hitting 75 percent of their shots or better. Credit to their shot-making, but that's certainly a defensive issue as well.
Myles Turner has been good close to the hoop, but he hasn't quite been as impactful away from it. AJ Green and Gary Trent Jr. often find themselves guarding much bigger players. Bobby Portis has never made waves on that end. Kyle Kuzma has been versatile, but constantly guarding smaller and quicker players can pose some challenges. A lack of a legitimate small forward has plagued this team.
The issue is only amplified by Giannis Antetokounmpo's absence. The bad news for the Bucks is that he's not coming back anytime soon as he nurses a calf injury. Milwaukee could be without the Greek Freak for a month, and their defensive stats could plummet further if they keep playing like this. Simply put, they need to figure it out. Teams are calling out their approach. That can't happen.
Of course, it's all far easier said than done. Milwaukee's subpar defenders cannot just suddenly lock in overnight. To put it bluntly, the Bucks' best hope to revamp the defense may have to come externally, whether that means making defensive-minded moves or bringing in a new leading voice with some new ideas for this group. No matter what, it's clear that the Bucks' current approach just isn't working.
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