While the pairing of Giannis Antetokounmpo and Doc Rivers looked good on paper, the early results were actually disappointing for the Milwaukee Bucks. As a result, the two-time MVP bared a glimpse of his offseason plan with his coach to improve how the team will perform in the coming months.
Before the regular season started, the Bucks’ front office went all-in by acquiring All-Star point guard Damian Lillard from the Portland Trail Blazers in exchange for a package headlined by Jrue Holiday. The hope was that Lillard would generate offense from the backcourt and complement Antetokounmpo, especially during end-game scenarios.
While Milwaukee’s performance during the first half of the season seemed to point in the right direction, as evidenced by a second-seed record, the period after Adrian Griffin was fired and Doc Rivers was hired saw the team underwhelm. The playoffs started with the Bucks falling to third place to face the Indiana Pacers.
They started the series with an injured Antetokounmpo sitting on the bench. To make matters worse, Lillard himself missed some crucial games, which led to the Pacers eliminating Milwaukee in six games.
Thanks to a mid-season coaching change, injuries, and the inability to make the most of the Antetokounmpo-Lillard duo, the Bucks will now have to watch the playoffs at home.
Even with the playoffs still ongoing, Antetokounmpo’s focus is already on the upcoming season. In an article written by Eric Nehm for The Athletic, the All-Star forward bared a semblance of a plan to get the team back on track.
“We try to figure out the game and a game plan that complements the game and the way we play,” Antetokounmpo said. “Do we want to play fast? Do we want to play better in the half court? Do we have to defend better? Do some guys need to start?
“It’s just all the things that I don’t have the answers for. And I think Doc has been in the NBA 25 years, I think he probably has the answers for that. What I know is I have to keep on figuring out ways to make my game easier and complement my teammates.”
Rivers’ mid-season hiring didn’t afford the Bucks’ head coach enough time to get to know his team and come up with schemes that benefit their strengths. If things go according to plan, the pair can make the most of their offseason to come back as a more dangerous team, especially if Antetokounmpo stays healthy.
With Milwaukee starting its offseason recently, it has a lot of work to do in the coming months in order to prove it's still one of the true contenders in the NBA when next season starts.
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