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3 Issues for Milwaukee Bucks after Game 1 Loss to Orlando Magic

By Brian Sampson

LAKE BUENA VISTA, FLORIDA - AUGUST 18: Giannis Antetokounmpo #34 of the Milwaukee Bucks fouls Nikola Vucevic #9 of the Orlando Magic while reaching for a loose ball in the second half during Game One in the first round of the NBA playoffs at The Field House at ESPN Wide World Of Sports Complex on August 18, 2020 in Lake Buena Vista, Florida. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Kim Klement-Pool/Getty Images)
LAKE BUENA VISTA, FLORIDA - AUGUST 18: Giannis Antetokounmpo #34 of the Milwaukee Bucks fouls Nikola Vucevic #9 of the Orlando Magic while reaching for a loose ball in the second half during Game One in the first round of the NBA playoffs at The Field House at ESPN Wide World Of Sports Complex on August 18, 2020 in Lake Buena Vista, Florida. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Kim Klement-Pool/Getty Images) /
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The Milwaukee Bucks must correct these three issues following their loss to the Orlando Magic in Game 1 in the first round of the NBA playoffs.

In, perhaps, the biggest surprise of the NBA playoffs so far, the Milwaukee Bucks fell to the Orlando Magic in Game 1 of their first-round playoff matchup. The Bucks, who finished with the NBA’s best record, looked entirely unprepared against the team with the worst record in this year’s postseason. Fortunately for Milwaukee, there is plenty of time to make up ground.

The Magic came into this contest with a solid gameplan against a Milwaukee team who looked like they expected to cruise past an undermanned squad. After obliterating the Detroit Pistons in the opening round of last year’s playoffs, the Bucks appeared to expect the same this time around and was in for a rude awakening. Let’s take a look at three problems they had in this contest.

3. Nikola Vucevic

Nikola Vucevic, the Magic’s leading scorer, put on a clinic in this one, scoring from all over the court. He showed he could be the type of pick-and-pop big that has given the Bucks’ fits in the past. Knocking down five of his eight three-point attempts in the game, he stretched the limits of the Bucks’ drop coverage defense and paid them pay for asking Brook Lopez to defend the paint as much as possible.

It’s unlikely Vucevic, a career 33.5 percent 3-point shooter, continues to knock down the outside shot at the same clip, but it certainly scares Milwaukee and will test their defensive principles. Will head coach Mike Budenholzer make adjustments he’s failed to make in the past?

2. Early Pull-up 3s

Bucks’ stars Giannis Antetokounmpo and Eric Bledsoe took a lot of flack for taking early pull-up 3s in the second half. Instead of attacking a Magic defense that was more than happy to give up outside shots to each of those guys, they often bailed them out with their looks early in the shot clock. In fact, the Bucks’ as a team struggled from downtown early in the shot clock, making only one of their nine three-point attempts when the shot clock was between 22-18 seconds.

Milwaukee has to figure out the correct balance between aggressiveness and early shots in order to maximize their punishment on Orlando’s defense. Their non-shooters–such as Antetokounmpo and Bledsoe–especially must be more aggressive in applying pressure on the Magic’s defenders.

Next. Bucks vs Magic: 3 Matchups to Watch. dark

1. “Build a Wall” Defense

It’s been 15 months since we first saw the Toronto Raptors employ the “build a wall” strategy on defense against Antetokounmpo and the Bucks. And it appears Milwaukee is no closer to solving it.

The Magic constantly sent multiple defender Antetokounmpo’s way, especially in transition, as an attempt to keep him out of the paint. And it worked for the most part as he required 25 shots to get to a team-high 31 points. We’ll see if the Bucks have a counter in Game 2.

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