Milwaukee Bucks: 3 observations from Game One loss

Rebounding, Turnovers, and Free Throws

These are the aforementioned fixable shortcomings for the Bucks from game one. They have the ability to rebound better. They have the talent to not turn the ball over so much. They have the skill to make more free throws. They just didn’t do these things in game one.

Let’s start with rebounding. The Miami Heat outrebounded the Bucks 53-44 in game one and the offensive rebounds for the Heat and lack of them for Milwaukee was a frustrating pairing. The Heat had 12 offensive rebounds, but it seemed like even more than that. It started with their first basket of the game, a tip-in from Jimmy Butler on the offensive glass, and they were persistent in crashing the boards the entire game.

This Miami Heat team is all about grit and hard work, so effort on the offensive boards isn’t surprising and the Bucks need to always know where their man is when a shot goes up or it will be more of the same.

The turnovers were even worse. 19 turnovers in a playoff game is just simply unacceptable. It was especially frustrating because many of the turnovers were just from bad reads that led to forced passes or just sloppy dribbling or passing in general.

All turnovers are bad turnovers, but at least things like moving screens or charging fouls make it a dead ball and give you a chance to set up on defense. Getting the ball stolen gives the other team a fast-break opportunity.

Finally, the free-throw shooting, particularly Giannis’ free throw shooting. The Milwaukee Bucks as a team went 14-26 from the line and free throws were quite literally the difference as Miami made 11 more free throws, going 25-27, and won by 11. However, if you take out Antetokuonmpo’s 4-12 night from the line, the rest of the team shot an almost respectable 10-14 which is 71.4 percent.

Giannis needs to be better in game two in a lot of ways. He needs to not turn the ball over six times, not get into early foul trouble so he can be in the game and in attack mode on offense without having to worry about offensive fouls. He also can look for his own shot a little bit more, but the biggest thing he can do for the next game and his career as a playoff performer is to make free throws.

Last season, it plagued him in the series against the Toronto Raptors and he’s had a major case of the yips at the free-throw line ever since. It’s 90 percent mental for Antetokounmpo who puts in countless hours and shots from that spot, but he has to figure out a way to get his percentage up or his talent in the paint will be negated by the opponent’s willingness to foul him instead of getting an easy two points.

What did you think of the Milwaukee Bucks’ game one loss and what is your concern level for this series and beyond? Let me know in the comments or on Twitter @DairylandXpress.