It’s secure to say this wasn’t the beginning of the season Doc Rivers wished for the Milwaukee Bucks.

Contemporary off a 115-102 loss to the Brooklyn Nets on Sunday, the Bucks have opened the season with a 1-2 document. Thus, it’s honest to surprise: what’s happening with the Bucks?

This isn’t the primary time the Bucks have struggled lately. They’ve suffered a first-round exit within the final two playoffs, and in the end, they’ve struggled to duplicate the title-winning season of 2020-21. Whereas key accidents have performed a big issue, it’s secure to say it’s been a tricky stretch for Milwaukee. Nevertheless, the Bucks are opening the 2024-25 season at comparatively full power (minus Khris Middleton) and following a full offseason underneath coach Doc Rivers. But, they’re nonetheless posting underwhelming outcomes — even when three video games usually are not sufficient of a pattern dimension to attract priceless conclusions.

The Bucks struggled defensively within the 133-122 loss to the Chicago Bulls on Friday, permitting them to shoot 47.9% from the sector and a staggering 44.7% from past the arc on 47 makes an attempt. They improved defensively Sunday and restricted the Nets to “solely” 115 factors. Nevertheless, this time, the offensive execution was missing. The Bucks shot simply 30.3% from three-point vary, and also you merely can’t win in as we speak’s NBA when taking pictures the ball this poorly from deep. 

Possibly it’s a mix of things in particular moments, however the offensive metrics present the Bucks haven’t been as unhealthy as their 1-2 document suggests. The Bucks rank sixth within the league in true taking pictures share (120.7 %), fourth in total discipline objective share (49.4) and fifth in efficient discipline objective share (57.3). Additionally they rank ninth in opposing taking pictures share (44.2) and twelfth in opposing efficient discipline objective share (52.1). They haven’t been woeful by any means, and it appears they must tweak a couple of issues right here and there to get again to profitable methods.

Sadly for the Bucks, they’ll tackle one other title contender, the Boston Celtics, on the highway this Monday (7:30 p.m. ET, NBA TV). The Celtics are undefeated by way of three video games and are destroying the opposition, averaging a margin of 16.3 factors per victory — and that features a tight 124-118 victory over the Detroit Pistons on Saturday. This would be the good time for the Bucks to bounce again from two disappointing losses, as a result of displaying they’ll compete with the Celtics ought to assist them get issues again on monitor, regardless in the event that they win or drop a 3rd straight contest.

It’s early within the season, so there’s no must hit the panic button simply but. Nevertheless, Monday’s contest in Boston is already an necessary recreation for the Bucks. That is when they should present they’ll nonetheless be thought-about a contending staff within the Jap Convention. Giannis Antetokounmpo and Damian Lillard have to be at the most effective of their skills to match up with a star-studded Boston staff, as a result of a 1-3 begin shouldn’t be one thing the Bucks have been hoping for when the 2024-25 common season began.