by AAA Sports
Monday, Feb 19, 2024The phrase “Careful what you ask for” is believed to have originated in the 1890s, and it appears that perennial MVP candidate Giannis Antetokounmpo is not familiar with the adage. Antetokounmpo had this to say at the All-Star Game this past weekend when asked about the Bucks’ struggles this season:
“This is my fourth coach in the span of six months," Antetokounmpo said. "Different philosophy, different game plan. It’s hard. It’s draining."
Left unsaid was any role that Antetokounmpo himself had to play in jettisoning the three coaches (Mike Budenholzer, Adrian Griffin, and interim Joe Prunty) before Doc Rivers came aboard a few weeks ago. NBA teams operate these days at the pleasure of their superstars, who get guaranteed money but can cause panic in the team offices at the slightest hint that they might want out if the clubs don’t make moves that lead to immediate title contention (see James, LeBron.)
A disgruntled Antetokounmpo in the Age of Player Empowerment is the last thing that Bucks management wanted. After getting ousted in the playoffs by Miami, they had tossed away part of the future by loading some draft picks and defensive stopper Jrue Holiday in a moving van and brought in more offense in Damian Lillard.
The result? The Bucks, one of the favorites to come out of the East and win another championship, never generated much mojo out of the gate. Defense has been a huge issue, and new boss Doc Rivers has produced even worse results than Griffin did. Milwaukee limps into the final third of the season with 7 losses in their last 10 (all under Rivers).
Despite their travails, the Bucks haven’t been completely abandoned by oddsmakers. They list anywhere from +375 to +450 to win the title, with the numbers guys apparently not yet convinced that Cleveland and New York have the weaponry to best challenge the Celtics in the East.
There is plenty of schadenfreude to go around in Milwaukee. Rivers, who has become an itinerant HC since walking away from the Celtics when Boston was ready to pull the plug on the Pierce-Garnett Era and start a rebuild, wasn’t able to get things done after being given ready-made teams in Los Angeles (Clippers) and Philadelphia.
Now he tries again and has two generational talents at his disposal – Antetokounmpo, who has been making noises about the team having to play harder; and Lillard, who must wonder what he got himself into after shooting his way out of Portland and not getting his preferred South Beach destination.
Milwaukee starts the home stretch 9 games back of Boston in the loss column, and with 29 games left in the regular season, catching the Celtics is out of the question. But if Cleveland cools down and the Knicks don’t go nuts, second place in the East is attainable and that would enable the Bucks to avoid Boston until the EC finals.
A strong finish will require much greater attention to detail, and a focus that Rivers knows has been missing. After the final game before the All-Star break, a soul-crushing loss to the lowly Grizzlies, Rivers summed up the players’ mindset with this: “We had some guys in Cabo.”
MVP ODDS
Milwaukee’s problems have had an effect on Antetokounmpo’s chances of winning a third MVP award, which with the injury to Joel Embiid has become a two-player race between Denver’s Nikola Jokic (+200) and OKC’s Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (+350). Antetokounmpo follows at +1000, followed by Luka Doncic of Dallas at +1100.
“This is my fourth coach in the span of six months," Antetokounmpo said. "Different philosophy, different game plan. It’s hard. It’s draining."
Left unsaid was any role that Antetokounmpo himself had to play in jettisoning the three coaches (Mike Budenholzer, Adrian Griffin, and interim Joe Prunty) before Doc Rivers came aboard a few weeks ago. NBA teams operate these days at the pleasure of their superstars, who get guaranteed money but can cause panic in the team offices at the slightest hint that they might want out if the clubs don’t make moves that lead to immediate title contention (see James, LeBron.)
A disgruntled Antetokounmpo in the Age of Player Empowerment is the last thing that Bucks management wanted. After getting ousted in the playoffs by Miami, they had tossed away part of the future by loading some draft picks and defensive stopper Jrue Holiday in a moving van and brought in more offense in Damian Lillard.
The result? The Bucks, one of the favorites to come out of the East and win another championship, never generated much mojo out of the gate. Defense has been a huge issue, and new boss Doc Rivers has produced even worse results than Griffin did. Milwaukee limps into the final third of the season with 7 losses in their last 10 (all under Rivers).
Despite their travails, the Bucks haven’t been completely abandoned by oddsmakers. They list anywhere from +375 to +450 to win the title, with the numbers guys apparently not yet convinced that Cleveland and New York have the weaponry to best challenge the Celtics in the East.
There is plenty of schadenfreude to go around in Milwaukee. Rivers, who has become an itinerant HC since walking away from the Celtics when Boston was ready to pull the plug on the Pierce-Garnett Era and start a rebuild, wasn’t able to get things done after being given ready-made teams in Los Angeles (Clippers) and Philadelphia.
Now he tries again and has two generational talents at his disposal – Antetokounmpo, who has been making noises about the team having to play harder; and Lillard, who must wonder what he got himself into after shooting his way out of Portland and not getting his preferred South Beach destination.
Milwaukee starts the home stretch 9 games back of Boston in the loss column, and with 29 games left in the regular season, catching the Celtics is out of the question. But if Cleveland cools down and the Knicks don’t go nuts, second place in the East is attainable and that would enable the Bucks to avoid Boston until the EC finals.
A strong finish will require much greater attention to detail, and a focus that Rivers knows has been missing. After the final game before the All-Star break, a soul-crushing loss to the lowly Grizzlies, Rivers summed up the players’ mindset with this: “We had some guys in Cabo.”
MVP ODDS
Milwaukee’s problems have had an effect on Antetokounmpo’s chances of winning a third MVP award, which with the injury to Joel Embiid has become a two-player race between Denver’s Nikola Jokic (+200) and OKC’s Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (+350). Antetokounmpo follows at +1000, followed by Luka Doncic of Dallas at +1100.
