After an ugly 1-3 road trip, it was clear that the Milwaukee Bucks weren't playing their best basketball.
Returning home for a quick matchup with the Memphis Grizzlies, the hope was that they could find a groove against a team missing its best player in Ja Morant before hitting the road again. That didn't happen. The banged-up Grizzlies erased a double-digit deficit to secure a 132-119 victory over the Milwaukee Bucks at Fiserv Forum, who suffered yet another fourth-quarter collapse.
This recent stretch is just yet another low point for the Milwaukee Bucks in a season full of them.
Even without Morant, the Grizzlies are exactly the type of team that has given the Bucks trouble this season due to their youth and athleticism. Unsurprisingly, Milwaukee hasn't found a formula to tackle this issue, and it resulted in another loss. With the Bucks not improving against these types of teams, it's clear that a roster shakeup may be the only thing to keep the team above water right now.
The Milwaukee Bucks should be making phone calls
The NBA Trade Deadline is set for February 6, which is just a few short days away. Within these next handful of hours, the Milwaukee Bucks have a chance to fix some prominent issues. This team needs more athletes who can switch defensively and stand firm when speedy players try to drive past them, especially in the frontcourt. Those are the types of teams standing in the way of a title.
In what has become a concerning trend lately, Brook Lopez has taken a step back. Players have been targeting him on defense by pulling him out to the perimeter and blowing right by him for an easy shot at the rim. This issue has been amplified by the absence of Bobby Portis, as the Bucks are forced to give Lopez more time, but even with Portis, the need for athleticism and quickness is still present.
Whether they replace Lopez, Portis, both or decide to add another big man to their current rotation, it's clear that this team could simply use something new at the center spot. Upgrading at that spot could very well be the difference between competing for it all this season and going home far earlier than the Milwaukee Bucks expected. Standing pat is simply not an option if they want to contend.
On paper, the Milwaukee Bucks have a strong roster, but the age and lack of athleticism are catching up quick. Over the next few days, general manager Jon Horst must work tirelessly to give this team a jolt amid a recent slump. Depending on who they may add, a move to address these needs could be the spark this team needs to fuel a turnaround over the next few months.
Though the Bucks might not have as many assets, they should look at what the Dallas Mavericks did before the deadline last season. Knowing they needed more youth and athleticism, they made trades for P.J. Washington and Daniel Gafford, who immediately become key cogs and helped fuel a run to the NBA Finals. Perhaps something along those lines could help Milwaukee in a similar fashion.
The brutal loss to Memphis should only intensify Milwaukee's pursuit of any meaningful upgrades, unless they want to keep struggling against rosters constructed with this type of talent.
Stay tuned for more Milwaukee Bucks analysis.