It has been a disastrous start to the second round for the Milwaukee Bucks. After losing by eight points in Game 1 to the Brooklyn Nets (final score wasn't indicative of how much the Nets dominated), the Bucks followed up one dud with another, losing Game 2 by a final score of 125-86.
Down 2-0, the series heads back to Milwaukee with the Bucks left wondering how they can salvage things and make a push. Here is exactly how the Bucks can get back in the series against Brooklyn.
The Nets don't start an overly large group when they roll out the first unit. Meanwhile, the Bucks have Giannis Antetokounmpo and Brook Lopez who are both right around 7-feet tall. Giannis has made a living as a two-time MVP winner by getting to the rim and using his length to punish defenses. Yet in this series so far, he's been hesitant.
Milwaukee has tried to pour it in from three-point range in the first two games of this series and it has not gone well.
In Game 1, the Bucks shot 6-30 from downtown, good for just 20%. In Game 2 it wasn't much better with Milwaukee going 8-27 as a team for 29%. Giannis is a dreadful 2-8 from three in the two games combined.
Now, a lot of the credit should rightfully go to the Nets. After their defense didn't show up in the regular season, including in their matchups against the Bucks, they have switched gears in this series so far against Milwaukee. But the Bucks are also playing right into the hands of Brooklyn.
The Bucks have capable three-point shooters like Khris Middleton and Bryn Forbes, but it's not going to be enough in this series to comeback and win.
Milwaukee needs to establish itself as the dominant team in the paint and start driving to the rack more.
Kevin O'Connor of The Ringer made a glaring discovery after the first quarter of Game 2.
Milwaukee's made and attempted shots in the first quarter of Game 2 vs. the Nets:
Restricted Area: 0/0
Midrange: 5/10
3-Pointers: 3/10Milwaukee has gotten away from who they are. Not getting any pressure on the rim. Have to also credit to Brooklyn for playing strong team D.
— Kevin O'Connor (@KevinOConnorNBA) June 8, 2021
How do you not even attempt a shot in the restricted area for an entire quarter? It's one thing to not make a shot inside, but to not even have an attempt is a whole other story. And the Nets have feasted as a result.
This Nets team isn't known for its physicality or its incredible defense. Yet, this series could fool some into believing so. The Bucks need to find that switch if they want any shot to make a comeback in this Eastern Conference semifinal.
If you lose to the Nets with Kevin Durant and Kyrie Irving being unconscious on the offensive end while making almost every shot, so be it. But to lose to them while being the inferior team in the paint and physically is bordering on unacceptable.
It's been ugly the first two games for the Bucks and many will have already counted them out by now. This isn't a one fix solution for Milwaukee but getting to the hoop and rediscovering what got them to this point while cleaning off their identity will go a long way in any sort of comeback attempt Milwaukee has in this series.
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