Coping with life without Giannis Antetokounmpo hasn’t been easy for the Milwaukee Bucks. The team has had several momentum swings. However, such a drastic loss for a long stretch is a first for the season. At this time, a change in strategy was required to find a way to still be impactful without the command of the Greek Freak. And Rivers found an answer.
Over the last two games, the Bucks have attempted two of the three highest three-point attempts of their season. It was no coincidence. “The three-point shooting was the difference in the game tonight,” Rivers admitted after their victory against the 76ers. That game plan is a result of losing a paint-dominant scorer like Antetokounmpo.
However, compared to their loss to the Hawks, the renowned head coach appreciated the Bucks’ continuity with the strategy. “Yeah but you know we we did it for one quarter the other night and then we got away from it and that’s why you visibly saw me. I just couldn’t understand why we go away from it for the life of me and tonight we kept doing it and it’s really important,” Rivers added.
Feb 9, 2025; Milwaukee, Wisconsin, USA; Milwaukee Bucks guard Damian Lillard (0) shoots against Philadelphia 76ers forward Kelly Oubre Jr. (9) during the second quarter at Fiserv Forum. Mandatory Credit: Jeff Hanisch-Imagn Images
His frustrations were due to the fact that Milwaukee has skillful shooters that support such a style of game. “We have so many guys that can make shots. We should do it every night and the better we get at it the better we’re going to be as a team,” he said about the three-point shooting approach.
Damian Lillard too agreed with the coach. His eight three-pointers en route to a season-high 43 points laid the groundwork. However, key contributions from Gary Trent Jr. (7 threes) and others helped create the separation needed in their eight-point win over Philly.
Having to adjust without Giannis Antetokounmpo, leveraging on the team’s shooting has been transformational for Milwaukee. Furthermore, it also ignites Damian Lillard to play more as a natural point guard. With the Greek Freak, it’s still possible in sets. But tonight, Dame needed to attack and it came by doing what his two-time MVP would normally do.
Attacking and trust got Damian Lillard and the Bucks through
Giannis Antetokounmpo is far greater than just the primary scoring threat for the Milwaukee Bucks. What makes him the epicenter is his ability to make the right reads. He draws defensive attention when attacking the rim and accordingly looks to make the right play. Tonight, Damian Lillard had to summon his bloodlust to attack the basket to really open up the game for the Bucks.
Yes, he did do most of his damage from beyond the arc. However, Lillard also went to the free-throw line seven times and dished out eight assists. All of that was due to his rim pressure which was followed by looking for an open teammate. From there it was a game of moving the ball ‘the right way’.
“I just think we’ve been moving the ball well. I’m trying to get in the paint and put pressure on the defense and get a reaction and then just try to ignite that type of play where I try to get the ball to where it’s supposed to go and then the next guy is making the right pass and then the guy after that is making the right pass. So I think because the ball is moving we’re able to generate a lot of those threes,” Dame Dolla said about the Bucks’ performances.
Additionally, the defense did a remarkable job of curtailing Joel Embiid in the second half. The first half saw the 76ers score most of their points through Tyrese Maxey and Embiid. One of them had to be shut down. And with some size there since adding Kyle Kuzma, the Bucks lasered their focus onto the former MVP.
Embiid only scored 3 of his 27 in the second half, a testament to Milwaukee’s solid game plan against him in the second half. Tyrese Maxey’s 39 points continued to keep the game close. But in the end, having six more three-pointers than Philly put the icing on the cake for the Bucks.
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