5 Flaws that could crush the Milwaukee Bucks' playoff hopes
By Tyler Watts
3. Lack of cohesion
The Bucks felt like they had to shake things up after last season’s disappointment. Trading Jrue Holiday for Damian Lillard was a massive move that few saw coming. Milwaukee lost Holiday’s elite defense but gained one of the best closers in the league. The Bucks also added Malik Beasley and Patrick Beverley to their mix.
They fired Adrian Griffin because he was not maximizing their roster. There were defensive shortcomings and questionable coaching decisions behind the move, but the Bucks felt it was necessary to do mid-season in a championship or bust year.
Now, Doc Rivers is installing things on the fly and trying to get his two stars comfortable playing together. They are finally just starting to run pick-and-rolls at volume and maximize each other’s skill sets.
Will their lack of cohesion catch up to them in the playoffs? Rivers did not have a training camp to install his system. Dame and Giannis did not even get half a regular season with their head coach. The Bucks have the talent, but getting the most out of it may not happen yet. Milwaukee cannot just rely on skill. They need everything to come together to win another championship, while avoiding the injury bug.