News - Milwaukee Bucks - EthanC21
Reality Check
To begin week 10, the Bucks were fully healthy for the first time this season. The GM was thrilled with the roster composition, every player had their place and purpose. The team was nervous and excited. The next 8 games were going to provide a huge test and really help benchmark where this team sat amongst the league halfway through the season.
Eastern Conference heavyweights awaited, teams such as the Hornets, Raptors, Wizards. The team would also travel to Minnesota and face once of the West's best.
Could the Bucks bring their best, match it and possibly beat these teams?
It all started pretty well, an overtime loss to the Hornets proved that we could hang with the best when at full strength.
Then a 23 point win over the Wizards left the team full of confidence heading into week 11, again at full strength, the team would again roll out the same line-up, the same playbook, no changes to a clearly well oiled machine.
Then it happened. Daz awoke to a completed game, barely able to read with still tired eyes, it looked like a lopsided score line. Who did we play? Who won? The answer shook him.
A 36 point loss to the Timberwolves, a disaster, a result that brought the team's and his confidence crashing down.
A narrow loss to the Raptors followed before the team was able to steady the ship and really put away the rest of the games for the week, including a strong win over the surging Orlando Magic.
So now we look back, sadly, with more questions than answers.
What happened in that Minnesota game?
Let's be clear, we didn't expect to win. The Timberwolves are extremely talented and well run. They will certainly go deep in the playoffs. But 36 points?
Was it a case of the Western Conference being on another level? Close losses to the Spurs and Blazers in week 9 made us believe we could compete. Was it a bad matchup? Possibly. Was it just one of those games where nothing goes right? Maybe.
This result has made us question our defence and offensive strategies. We were really happy on defence, until that Timberwolves pick and roll tore us to shreds time and time again.
On offense, we have always gone against the popular trends, but are we trying to do too much? Would it be best to go towards more basic and conventional offensive strategies? Perhaps.
Answers are currently being sought, the GM and coaching staff have gone back to the whiteboard and are really working through it.
Trying to find out what suits us best. We have some talented individuals on this team, who should only continue to improve.
Can we as a staff equip them with their best chance to succeed?
The second half of the season will tell.
Let's Go Bucks!
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