Milwaukee Bucks head coach Doc Rivers has long been known for his defensive-minded coaching and is expected to emphasize team defense for the upcoming 2024-25 season. Rivers traditionally values strong perimeter defense, rim protection and communication.
While things didn't go according to plan last year, there are two factors that should contribute to an overall defensive resurgence and improvement this upcoming season.
Fully healthy roster of returning core Bucks
With the Milwaukee Bucks' core players such as Giannis Antetokounmpo, who is a versatile defender, and Brook Lopez, who provides elite shot-blocking, Rivers may enhance their defense by focusing on a more disciplined system, switching tactics, and aggressive closeouts.
We should expect a stronger emphasis on defensive rotations and minimizing opponents' open shots, specifically from 3-point range, which has been a key defensive principle for Rivers in the past years.
Rivers' ability to get veteran players to buy in and improve defensive cohesion will be crucial, especially as the Milwaukee Bucks aim to build on their established defensive identity while incorporating new additions to the roster. None of this will matter, though, unless the roster is healthy come playoff time, as evidenced by consecutive first-round playoff exits the last two seasons.
Giannis Antetokounmpo was injured in the first game during the 2022-23 playoffs and did not return for the series. He also missed the entire first-round playoff series in 2023-24 due to a strained calf. As mentioned, both resulted in back-to-back Bucks' first-round playoff exits.
Damian Lillard missed two games in last season's playoff series loss to the Indiana Pacers. In the four games he did play, he was nowhere near close to being fully healthy. Injuries really took a toll on the team's chemistry last season on both sides of the ball, but especially defensively.
From a statistical perspective, things were looking up defensively last season right after the All-Star break after Rivers took over from the fired Adrian Griffin. That didn't last long at all, though, as the team's defensive efficiency went downhill fast after that due in part to injuries, which also affected team chemistry.
With a fully healthy roster heading into this season, which is the plan with Khris Middleton on track to return from offseason ankle surgery, the hope is everybody can stay on the court together. Heading into training camp, the Bucks will have had an entire offseason under Rivers, learning his system and schemes.
Free agent signings will bolster the Bucks defense and bench
Gary Trent Jr. - The Bucks' defense will no doubt definitely be better during the 2024-25 season, as the team actually now has role players who fit their style of play and who complement the starting unit. Gary Trent Jr. was the big free agent signing brought on to replace Malik Beasley.
While Trent Jr. is not a lockdown defender, he is great a pressuring opposing ball handlers, forcing turnovers and getting steals. He is also very good at operating in the passing lanes, can navigate through screens and has the size to alter shots.
Delon Wright - The 6-foot-5 backup point guard is a disruptive defender and a much better guard defender than what the Bucks had on their roster coming off the bench last season. He will provide much more versatility and can play with different lineups when subbing in for Lillard and/or Trent.
Wright is known as the "K.O.D." - King of Deflections - using his length to disrupt passing lanes. He will no doubt diversify any lineup he is in on the floor at any given time and is the type of player who will have a huge defensive impact on a championship-contending team like the Milwaukee Bucks.
Taurean Prince - he is the ideal younger wing-type player that the Bucks so desperately need. It is no secret that Khris Middleton has lost a step on defense, and when healthy, he is an average defender at best. The 30-year-old Prince brings some youth and athleticism to the defensive side of the ball.
He is an above-average defender who is not elite, but he is also a major improvement over what the team had coming off the bench last season in Jae Crowder. Prince's versatility will give the Bucks more options tinkering with different lineups, especially if and when they are getting gashed by penetrating guards, which is what happened to them last season numerous times.
The Milwaukee Bucks were in dire need of quality defensive role players off the bench, after last seasons first round playoff exit. This is exactly what they acquired in the offseason.
Gary Trent Jr. is a better version of Malik Beasley and has more height and weight, which will prevent him from getting bullied around on the defensive side of the ball. Taurean Prince is an upgrade and a better version of Jae Crowder, who is not injury prone and should remain healthy.
Delon Wright is somewhat similar to Patrick Beverly, although he's a better point-of-attack defender at this point of his career. The Bucks have clearly improved and upgraded their bench defensively at all three spots.
The team has clearly shown that they have made a concerted effort to address their defensive concerns from last season. With a fully healthy roster and new additions, they have a full training camp to work and gel together, along with a head coach who has a master plan and has the knowledge and experience to implement it for the upcoming 2024-25 season.