Jason Kidd’s Milwaukee Bucks played a tight first half against the Boston Celtics last night, but a few fundamental errors sunk them in the third quarter.
The Bucks were able to get out to a good start and trailed by only four at the break. The third quarter was where the Celtics won this game, outscoring Milwaukee 30-17 to claim a 99-83 victory. Coach Kidd spoke about the hot start and the mistakes in the third that led to his squad’s downfall.
“We started the game off with a positive so we’ve got to be better,” J-Kidd told the media. “I thought we got off to a really good start and when you look at plus/minuses, it just tells the story of our bench and our subs. We found ourselves in a game that’s tied and we were down four at halftime. Coming out, we felt pretty good about it and unfortunately we got in the bonus and then we’re at the mercy of them. And then, you compound it with turning the ball over or shooting the perimeter shot, which they won. We just didn’t attack the paint enough in that third quarter.”
The Celtics went to the line for 10 free throws in the third quarter alone. Milwaukee was also outscored 12-6 in the paint and allowed eight fast-break points by Boston.
“I think when you look at the frustration of maybe not making a shot or giving up a shot, giving up points on the other end, again when you’re playing a team that moves the ball as well as they do, it puts a lot of pressure on your defense,” coach Kidd told reporters. “When they attack the paint and you’re in the bonus, the whistle can go against you. They got some free throws, they capitalized on our turnovers and we just weren’t patient on the offensive end. We can’t always settle for jump shots in that second quarter. For them, they didn’t settle for jump shots, they drove the ball and they got to the line.”
The C’s went 16-of-19 from the free throw line throughout the game and cashed in 11 points from the stripe in the second half alone. Meanwhile in the third, the Bucks were just 5-of-16 from the field.
“We’ve got to do better on the defensive end. And, when you look at this game tonight, it’s a four point game at halftime, and it’s a lesson learned for our young team to understand how to use the bonus,” J-Kidd told reporters. “When you look at Boston, they got in the bonus with 8:42 and got free throws. In this game, if you give up free throws to their best player or one of their best players, it’s going to be a long night and that’s what happened.”
Milwaukee’s starting group was solid. Greg Monroe (17), Giannis Antetokounmpo (16) and Khris Middleton (13) were all in double figures. Jerryd Bayless joined them with 12 off the bench, but the rest of the reserve unit struggled.
The bench was one of Milwaukee’s greatest strengths last year, but it is yet to find the fire that fueled it a year ago. Aside from Bayless, the reserves combined to go just 5-of-18. Jason made it clear that he wants a better collective effort going forward.
“We need to find that hunger. It’s not going to be up to Moose every night to start five for five. It’s not going to be just Giannis or Moore or Bayless, we need everybody to pitch in,” coach Kidd told the media. “We don’t have an All-Star. So, it takes a team effort and right now we’re not that team.”
NEXT UP
The Bucks (4-4) snapped their four-game winning streak, but they won’t have time to dwell on the loss.
They’ll travel across country to take on the Denver Nuggets (3-4) on Wednesday night. The Nuggets are coming off a Monday night victory at home over the Portland Trail Blazers.
Tipoff is set for 8 p.m. CT.
