Shorthanded Bucks need to tap into their ‘next-man-up-mentality’ going into Game 4

INDIANAPOLIS — Pat Connaughton has been with the Milwaukee Bucks for the final six seasons. He has seen nearly every thing in his tenure, so he had little interest in making excuses whereas speaking with reporters exterior of a ballroom within the staff’s lodge in Indianapolis. But earlier than explaining the Bucks’ path ahead, he needed to make one factor clear.

“For the record, them being hurt does suck,” Connaughton mentioned following the Bucks’ movie session on Saturday.

“Them” are the Bucks’ three finest gamers. As Milwaukee prepares for Game 4 on Sunday Giannis Antetokounmpo, Damian Lillard and Khris Middleton, all discover themselves on the damage report.

The Bucks have submitted their first damage report for Game 4 on Sunday in Indianapolis.

Probable: Khris Middleton (proper ankle sprain)

Doubtful:
Giannis Antetokounmpo (left soleus pressure)
Damian Lillard (proper Achilles tendinitis)

Out: Chris Livingston (sickness)

— Eric Nehm (@eric_nehm) April 27, 2024

Antetokounmpo began the postseason on the damage report with a left soleus (calf) pressure, which he suffered on April 9 in opposition to the Boston Celtics. Following the staff’s movie session on Saturday, Bucks head coach Doc Rivers informed reporters Saturday was an off day for Antetokounmpo and that the Bucks’ two-time NBA MVP ahead would “go hard early and then we’re going to make a decision after that” on Sunday. Rivers admitted he doubted Antetokounmpo would find a way to exercise early on Sunday after which be cleared to play in Game 4.

Lillard joined the damage report on Saturday with a proper Achilles pressure he suffered on one of many closing performs of the fourth quarter of the Bucks’ 121-118 Game 3 time beyond regulation loss. Shortly earlier than Connaughton stepped in entrance of the media, Lillard slowly walked by reporters in a strolling boot on his proper foot and on Saturday afternoon, The Athletic’s Shams Charania reported Lillard suffered an Achilles damage. The Bucks listed him as uncertain for Sunday with proper Achilles tendinitis.

Middleton is listed as possible for Game 4 with a proper ankle sprain. He performed via that very same damage on his manner to 42 factors in 41 minutes of motion of Game 3 on Friday. Rivers informed reporters they nonetheless wanted to ensure that every thing felt proper for Middleton when he awoke on Sunday, however he felt assured Middleton ought to find a way to play with the Bucks down 2-1 to the Pacers.

Knowing the Bucks may be with out Antetokounmpo and Lillard for Game 4, Connaughton defined why the Bucks don’t plan on simply giving up and the way they’re conserving their morale up.

“I think for us, it’s our competitive nature,” Connaughton mentioned. “We consider we’ve got a locker room of nice gamers and we’ve got guys that may have a ‘next-man-up mentality’ and may play. We have guys who’ve been conditions and clearly delivered previously, particularly within the postseason. So ensuring we lean on them.

“Just making sure that we don’t let those things mentally let us off the hook. It’s the playoffs. Everyone’s dealing with something, on our side, on their side, how do we fight through it? How do we find ways to win one game, win a battle? Overall, the series will be the war, but try to win a battle on Sunday and make sure we do it together and make sure we pick each other up with whatever it might be.”

If the Bucks are going to pull off a significant upset with out Antetokounmpo and Lillard, the Bucks are going to have to play with actual function on each ends.

Defensively, will probably be easy to construct on Game 3. They gave up 32 second-chance factors on 19 offensive rebounds by the Pacers. If the Bucks make a extra concerted effort to get a physique on each Pacer when a shot goes up, they are going to carry out higher defensively.

“We did a lot of good things; we just couldn’t get the ball after they missed,” Rivers mentioned Saturday. “Our initial defense, I think they shot like 31 percent, it was after they got the rebound and scored on the fourth possession is when they were scoring.”

“A lot of that was guards,” Rivers continued. “I don’t read much, but I’m sure people think it’s our bigs, a lot of it was our guards. And a lot of it was preventable. Some, they just got some great bounces, that happens in a game, but there were many where we didn’t hit. You gotta put a body on a body, you gotta block out. I’ve heard that since grade school. We have to do it and we have to do a better job, but we have to find guys and I don’t think we located our guys.”

Offensively, will probably be fairly a bit tougher, however it’s going to even be about taking part in with intentionality and function.

The Bucks outplayed the Pacers for the ultimate three quarters of Game 3, however their first-quarter efficiency was so disastrous all they might do was tie the sport within the closing three quarters and drive time beyond regulation. For a second straight sport, the Bucks misplaced their self-discipline on the offensive finish and so they paid for it.

“After the first nine minutes, the pressure didn’t bother us anymore,” Rivers mentioned Saturday. (*4*)

When the Bucks don’t take the best photographs and drive the mistaken ones, the Pacers reap the benefits of it on the opposite finish with simple buckets in transition. If Antetokounmpo and Lillard are unable to play Sunday, the Bucks can have to watch out with the ball and play with function, solely taking the photographs they need to and leaning into actions for their strongest offensive gamers.

In a standard scenario, as an alternative of the tip of 1 / 4, the Bucks would need to get into this motion sooner to give Middleton time to take care of any further consideration, reminiscent of traps or double groups, that the Pacers would possibly ship his manner, however this can be a purposeful set. The Pacers have labored to deny Middleton the ball all collection lengthy, so one of many best methods to get him a contact is setting a display.

On the play above, the Pacers have been pressured to honor Connaughton’s drive as a result of Middleton set display and Connaughton drove arduous at Aaron Nesmith. On the cross, Nesmith was ready to scramble again to his unique project, however the Bucks nonetheless managed to get Middleton the ball contained in the arc with a reside dribble in a spot he might assault with good spacing round him.

If the Bucks run one thing like that once more on Sunday and get Middleton the ball in the identical place, the Pacers can have robust selections to make. If they let Middleton work in isolation, he confirmed the flexibility to rating on Nesmith all through Game 2. But in the event that they ship assist, Middleton will probably be ready to see the assistance upfront and discover a teammate.

Without Antetokounmpo and Lillard, their finest creators, the Bucks will need to reduce and display with a purposeful finish purpose in thoughts on every possession.

Defenses have to respect Middleton’s capability to rating off the dribble, so the Bucks need to leverage that to open up alternatives for the remainder of the roster with good cuts and screens. This play begins with a pick-and-roll between Middleton and Portis, however the preliminary motion is only a decoy to get submit place for Portis on the left block, his favourite spot on the ground.

From there, Portis can function and put up factors as he did within the second half of Game 3 when he scored 15 on 6-of-9 taking pictures from the sector. His efficiency helped the Bucks climb again into the sport and ultimately take the lead. If the Bucks are going to pull off an upset in Game 4, they are going to need Portis at his finest for the complete sport.

On Saturday, Rivers informed reporters he believed the Pacers’ strain pressured the Bucks to submit Portis up on the “wrong” aspect, the best block, far too typically in Game 3. And that together with being extra purposeful with their personal play within the second half, Portis additionally slowed down.

“It was not us getting him going; more, he just settled down,” Rivers mentioned of Portis’ play within the second half. “Bobby was going actually quick at first of the sport, for no matter motive. The strain form of pushed us.

“But once he settled down and got into Bobby’s pace, I think Bobby is unguardable. I’ve told him that multiple times in timeouts. And then once he started to do it, he saw it. So he’ll be a better Bobby tomorrow.”

If the Bucks leverage Middleton and Portis appropriately, they’ll create photographs for their others as nicely.

That was a easy motion for A.J. Green, however the open shot for their second-year sharpshooter within the third quarter was the proper instance of taking part in with function on the offensive finish.

The Pacers can have each motion for these different gamers scouted significantly better and so they’ll be way more ready to take these issues away in Game 4. But merely avoiding turnovers and taking the best photographs with correct flooring steadiness, even when missed, will enable the Bucks to rating factors and place the Bucks higher on the defensive finish.

“We’re one game away from being an even series,” Rivers mentioned. “This is the playoffs. Things happen. Obviously you don’t want injuries to happen but when they do, you have to just pull in for one game until you figure you get more guys back and that’s how you have to do it.”

It gained’t be simple for the Bucks to steal Game 4 in Indianapolis, however it additionally isn’t unattainable, so long as the Bucks play with function on each ends of the ground.

(Photo of Khris Middleton and Bobby Portis: Joshua Gateley / Getty Images)