But although reigning back MVP Giannis Antetokounmpo confessed some frustration following the Bucks’ fourth consecutive loss, he said there’s no cause for the group to not stay focused and calm.
“We should keep advancing, we ought to keep playing good basketball, we should watch the film, and at the conclusion of the day, we’ve got to go out there and compete. When you come here, nothing can be simple.”
Yet more, the’ Bucks’ Achilles’ heel proved to be the fourth quarter, when they were outscored 12-4 in the final five minutes.
They’re currently 0-9 when trailing after three quarters this year, and they entered the night with the second-lowest win rate in matches which went to clutch time this year at 22 percent, according to ESPN Stats & Information study. Just the Detroit Pistons (20%) are worse.
Clutch time is defined as any time where the score is within five points at the final five minutes and may be at any stage during that interval.
“At the end of the day, we dropped four in a row; we are not going home,” Antetokounmpo said. “We are still here. It is not the playoffs. Evidently, it’s frustrating. A big game, men playing hard.
“You want to come out and win the match, but it doesn’t always go your own way. But always, you’ve got to look at the bright side of it. You still have another chance on Thursday. So, keep getting better, watch the film, enhance, maintain everybody in a fantastic location, and it is not the end of the planet at this time.
Milwaukee was playing without Jrue Holiday for the fifth consecutive game, since he stays out under safety and health protocols. Antetokounmpo stated the Bucks are overlooking Holiday’s presence on the court.
“We have to be better. Obviously, one of our best players on the team and playmakers and best defenders on the team is not playing us,” he said. “Obviously, it is not an excuse. I’m not a guy that gives explanations. But it’s a significant part of who we are, and we need him.”
Milwaukee (16-12) hasn’t lost four straight since the 2019 Eastern Conference finals against the Raptors, who had been the greatest NBA champions that season.
These teams will meet again on Thursday at Fiserv Forum, in which the Bucks will appear to make modifications.
“Nobody’s happy with the outcome, nobody feels good about it, but your procedure and the way you approach, you’ve got to go back and look at things and see where you can get better,” said Bucks coach Mike Budenholzer.
Earlier in the afternoon, the Bucks also declared during a news conference that they would take a phased-in approach to hosting lovers in their next few games, which are amenable to participant households and invited guests only. They began with 250 lovers Tuesday and will increase it to 500 for Thursday’s game and 750 on Friday, before launching games up to the general public beginning Sunday, when roughly 1,800 fans will be allowed.
In spite of all the fans back, they could not avoid the latest loss.
Raptors coach Nick Nurse, who’s battled against Milwaukee on numerous occasions, including the postseason, stated he doesn’t see the Bucks’ struggles continuing.
But I think there’s all kinds of things going on with several, many teams around the league, and there is so many clubs a few of games up above .500 plus a couple under, like probably over half the league,” Nurse said. “I do not actually look at it closely. So, I believe they’ve certainly got all the bits and they’ve got depth and they’ve got experience and they’ve got all; and I believe they’re among a bunch of teams which will continue to play better in the second half and prepare for a long run in the playoffs. They have got all of the tools they want.”
