Milwaukee Bucks Playoffs: Attacking DeRozan’s Defense Key to an Upset
By Tim Muma
Jason Kidd will need to exploit every weakness possible if the Milwaukee Bucks have a chance at knocking off the Toronto Raptors in Round One of the NBA playoffs.
Being the underdog in a postseason series has its benefits. The best part about playing that role is that a team like the Milwaukee Bucks can play with zero pressure. They can try anything they want to somehow dig out four wins.
Realistically, the Toronto Raptors are the clear-cut better team on offense and defense. However, when playing the same club multiple times in a row, sound strategy takes on even greater value.
Milwaukee’s defense will have all sorts of trouble slowing down the Raptors’ offense – no matter what they try. Thus, they need to make it a targeted track meet with one defender as their primary mark.
For the 2016-2017 Milwaukee Bucks, the focus should be on attacking DeMar DeRozan every time down the floor. Many have criticized DeRozan’s defense for a while, and he has the tendency to give up plenty of open shots. Whether or not the Bucks can knock down those open looks is a different story.
As for DeRozan, he ranks woefully low in contested shots per game. DeRozan finished the season 292nd in that category, contesting only 4.2 shots each night. Let’s say that the 30 NBA teams each played 10 guys per night. That would mean DeRozan was 292nd out of 300 players. Yikes!
If he’s not even going to bother using his feet or getting a hand up, the Bucks should run every offensive set directly at him. Any sort of movement, screen or 2-man action is going to put DeRozan out of position.
There may be a legitimate opportunity for Milwaukee to score nearly at-will, with DeRozan disguised as an open gate to the hoop.
He’s also not one for help defense in any capacity. DeRozan will be slow to react off the ball and fail to use his hands effectively. Despite the wingspan that comes with a 6-foot, 7-inch frame, DeRozan ranked 98th in deflections. He is truly a liability on the defensive end.
Khris Middleton, Malcolm Brogdon, Tony Snell and even Giannis Antetokounmpo could all have the chance to end up in DeRozan’s neighborhood. If they can put up plenty of early points against him, it will force the Raptors’ other defenders to start covering for him more often. Ideally, that opens up more space and opportunity for everyone else on the floor to find buckets.
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A steady pounding DeRozan’s way might also wear him down enough to impact his own offense. He will either be mentally frazzled from give up basket after basket, or should he choose to actually play defense, fatigue can become his enemy as each game nears the final buzzer.
Could this strategy backfire? It’s a possibility. Many would argue that Milwaukee can’t keep up with Toronto in a high-scoring affair, so it’s a suicide mission to focus on offense.
The problem is, the Bucks haven’t had much success against the Raptors with any other strategy. They’re 2-13 in the last 15 matchups, so what could it hurt? Attack, attack, attack!
Next: Brewers' Anderson Taking Advantage of Opportunity
The playoffs are a great time to push the envelope and attack something that is a clear weakness for your opponent. If the Milwaukee Bucks can execute a specialized game plan and create enough chaos, a 6-seed taking out the 3-seed wouldn’t be that far-fetched.