Bucks (1-3) vs Grizzlies (2-3) Recap and Reaction

The Bucks come into the game struggling after dropping three consecutive games. Damian Lillard has looked good so far this season and Giannis Antetokounmpo is off to another good start personally, but the rest of the Bucks team is still finding their footing. They matched up against the Memphis Grizzlies, who have been solid to start the season. Memphis has had a difficult schedule to beginning of the year and they've been tested regularly in their games leading up to this point. Let's dive into the action. 

Recap

The Bucks started with a lineup of Damian Lillard, Giannis Antetokounmpo, Gary Trent Jr. Taurean Prince, and Brook Lopez. The Grizzlies match up with Ja Morant, Santi Aldama, Jaren Jackson Jr, and rookies, Jaylen Wells, and Zach Edey. Wells was making his first start of his career, with both Desmond Bane, and Marcus Smart were out of the lineup for Memphis. I liked the lineup from the Grizzlies. It gives them more size to deal with Giannis driving to the basket in transition and in the halfcourt. The jumbo lineup of Aldama, Jackson Jr. and Edey would hopefully slow Giannis down, or make him work for his points. Early on Ja Morant did really well attacking in the half court. He was able to finish some floaters over Brook Lopez in the drop coverage, and was able to get his teammates involved as well. Milwaukee, however, seemed a bit slow. The pressure from the Grizzlies really seemed to bother the Buck's guard the entire night and they really struggled getting downhill against an athletic backcourt. This was noticeable in the Grizzlies fastbreak points. They are one of the top teams in the league generating transition baskets, while the Bucks really struggle to defend and score in transition. The hot start continued as Scottie Pippen Jr. checked in for Memphis. He has been a very good player for the Memphis bench this season and showed it in the first quarter. The quarter ended with the Grizzlies leading 40-24. The Bucks opened the second quarter in a zone. The hope was to try and contain the Memphis guard from getting into the pain, while also not giving up easy three point looks. This worked for the first half of the quarter. Giannis also started to get going, as he keyed the Buck's comeback attempt with a bunch of baskets at the rim. However, Ja Morant steadied the ship for the Grizzlies and was able to put them out ahead. He had a crazy sequence  of throwing a lob pass while on the floor for a loose ball, next possession he came down and hit a transition three, and followed that up by throwing a no look pass to Jaren Jackson Jr. in transition for an and-one. The sequence really seemed to flip the game on its head put all the momentum on the Grizzlies' side. Damian Lillard had a very rough first half. he was unable to make open shots and the Grizzlies' guard seemed to bothering him a lot. However, it wasn't just him. The Bucks as a whole, outside of Giannis, were not good. The offense was very stagnant. They did not run a lot of Dame and Giannis pick and rolls either. Oftentimes Lopez would either set a screen or re-screen for Dame and that's where the possession would die out. The player movement and ball movement was non-existent for the Bucks.  For the Bucks to find themselves on offense they need to move the ball better. They are one of the slowest playing teams in the league and if they aren't making shots that works against them even more. The halftime score would be 70-48 favoring the Grizzlies. Morant had 21 points 9 assist and 8 rebounds. Giannis lead the Bucks with 17 points. Dame was just 1/8 shooting from the floor. The Bucks as a team were 3/21 from three in the half as well. The third quarter seemed to go the same way as the first half went. Morant was able to get into paint and had a couple of easy lobs to Zach Edey. The Buck's defensive rotations were not good either. They didn't force the ball out of Morant's hands to have others beat them. The rotations on drop coverage were slow and sloppy and no one seem engaged on the defensive end. Jake LaRavia started to really show his ability in the third quarter for the Grizzlies. his hustle and IQ really made a big difference for Memphis. He was everywhere on defense and offense in the third quarter. The Grizzlies were +31 with him on the floor in the game. The Grizzlies' guard continued to punish the Bucks guards on offense and grew their lead out to 99-70 at the end of the third quarter. The Bucks kept their starters in for about half of the 4th quarter before putting in the bench. Giannis tried to make it a competitive game as he was relentlessly attacking the basket,  but ultimately the Grizzlies pulled away to a 122-99 victory. Ja Morant finished with 26 points, 14 assists, 10 rebounds for a triple-double. Memphis had 7 players in double figures. Giannis led the way with 37 points on 17/22 from the field. He was also 3/8 from the free throw line as well. Lillard finished the game 1/12 from the field and 0/6 from three. The Bucks as a whole shot 9/42 from three and 8/19 from the throw line. The win moves the Grizzlies to 3-3 on the year while the Bucks drop to 1-4. 

Reaction 

Memphis looked good tonight, but I think this game says move about the Bucks than them. Morant was excellent in attacking downhill tonight.  The Grizzlies are solid and I love the bench unit they have. Pippen and LaRavia come in and push the ball like crazy in transition. The Grizzlies fly around on defense as well making it challenging on opponents. The only complaint I have is Jaren Jackson Jr. He had some very questionable fouls in the game, which is something he really needs to clean up. His shot selection from three was very spotty as well. Overall, 3-3 is a good spot for Memphis to be in with their schedule. 

The Bucks look horrible. The limited offseason moves of not adding any perimeter defense is really hurting them. Every team in the league is getting after their guards and Dame is getting put in more and more pick and rolls as well. The age of the roster has to be concerning as well. it doesn't seem like they have a lot of speed on the perimeter and its noticeable. The chemistry between Dame and Giannis still doesn't look where it needs to be. Obviously getting Middleton back will some ease some of the offensive trouble, but he's not solving the defensive issues though. The Doc Rivers tenure in Milwaukee has been very very shaky so far and if this continues they may be fighting for a play-in spot. It's also worth noting Giannis has hinted at leaving Milwaukee if things don't start to change. Last year neither him nor Dame were healthy in the playoffs, but they aren't getting any younger. Giannis and Dame must figure out the chemistry between them and Rivers need to create some better defensive schemes if the Bucks want to win anything important this season.