The defending champion Milwaukee Bucks started slow in the 2021-22 season, but Giannis Antetokounmpo and Co. have now turned things around and gotten back on the right track as of late. Winners of four straight contests, the team is currently sitting in the third spot of the Eastern Conference with a 23-13 record.
The Bucks still have more work to do to fully return to that championship form. Mike Budenholzer and the rest of the team will have to put in more effort in order to help themselves sustain their good momentum in a bid to replicate last season's success.
With that said, here are two New Year's Resolutions for Milwaukee in 2022.
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Milwaukee Bucks 2022 New Year's Resolutions
2. Ease Donte DiVincenzo back into the rotation
A key role player for the Bucks, Donte DiVincenzo averaged 10.4 points, 5.8 rebounds, and 3.8 assists in 66 games played as a full-time starter last season. However, he missed action for Milwaukee after the first round of the 2021 NBA Playoffs due to a severe ankle injury sustained in Game 3 of their series against the Miami Heat.
After a long layoff, DiVincenzo finally made his way back on the court on Christmas Day as the Bucks grabbed a 117-113 victory over the Boston Celtics. As expected, the Villanova product only saw limited action as he scored a total of three points in 16 minutes played. In his second game of the season against the Orlando Magic, he tallied eight points and six rebounds in 16 minutes of action again.
His extended absence paved the way for other role players like Pat Connaughton, Grayson Allen, George Hill, and Jordan Nwora to step up for the team. However, it can't be denied that DiVincenzo is still a huge part of their rotation and can provide valuable contributions for Milwaukee whenever his number is called.
Moving forward, Budenholzer and his staff should definitely work on reintegrating the 24-year-old back into the swing of things and ensure that he gets to be in better game shape in the weeks to come. Certainly enough, having a reliable player like DiVincenzo back on the floor will surely help the championship aspirations of the Bucks this season.
1. Avoid overplaying Giannis Antetokounmpo in the regular season
Without a doubt, the high level of production of The Greek Freak has been one of the major factors as to why the Bucks were able to turn things around and climb the standings in recent weeks. In the month of December, he has averaged 28.4 points, 10.4 rebounds, and 5.6 assists in 32.5 minutes through eight games played.
Within that span, the Bucks notched a 10-5 win-loss record (Milwaukee went 3-2 without Giannis) that allowed them to overtake some of their rivals in the Eastern Conference. Surely, Antetokounmpo can still handle the huge minutes that are being given to him as he is still at the peak of his career at 27 years old.
However, the sustainability of his high usage on the floor for the long run remains in question. No one would want to see Antetokounmpo go in full throttle now only for him to have tired legs come the postseason. That's especially true given the Bucks will need him at his best as they are expected to face tough contenders along the way with the likes of the Brooklyn Nets, Chicago Bulls, and Heat, among others, in their path.
Indeed, finding the proper balance between letting the former MVP do his thing on the floor and opting to rest him some games should be a priority for Budenholzer and his crew. They will surely have a higher chance of making a stronger run in the playoffs if the load of Giannis Antetokounmpo is managed more efficiently in the regular season.
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