Blowout Loss Latest Setback As Bucks Navigate “Dog Days” Of The Season

Things don’t seem to be getting any easier for the Milwaukee Bucks.

Two days after posting one of their more impressive and complete victories of the season, a 123-108 manhandling of the New York Knicks, the reigning NBA champions found themselves licking their wounds after 136-100 drubbing by the Denver Nuggets.

The blowout loss was Milwaukee’s second in three games, eighth in the last 14, and left the reigning NBA champs fifth in a closer-than-expected Eastern Conference.

It also left Milwaukee’s players, who’ve rarely found themselves in such a position over the last few seasons, at a loss for words.

“We got out butts kicked,” said Bucks center Bobby Portis. “That hurts. It sucks to lose and to lose this way it hurts even worse. There’s really not much to say. Obviously, we care about winning. We want to win as many games as we can and put ourselves in a position to get to the top of the mountaintop again but the way we played tonight, that’s not going to get us back there.”

So how do the Bucks get back on track? It starts with defense.

For all the impressive offensive numbers Milwaukee has produced since Budenholzer came to town nearly four years ago, a staunch defense has been the foundation for the team’s success.

Heading into Sunday’s game, the Bucks ranked ninth in defensive efficiency (1.053) and 10th in defensive rating (108.5). They rank right in the middle of the league in points allowed (108.8) but eighth in opponents’ shooting percentage (44.3%) as well as 3-point shooting percentage (34.2%).

It was the latter two categories that most burned Milwaukee Sunday. Denver shot 60.2% from the floor while connecting on 23 of 43 3-point attempts – numbers that were boosted in large part by 15 Milwaukee turnovers which the Nuggets converted into 27 points.

“Turnovers have been an issue for us so far this season and it continued tonight,” Bucks coach Mike Budenholzer said.

It was Portis who, earlier this week, noted that the Bucks were in the midst of a challenging stretch — the “dog days” of the season; between the holidays and All-Star break that bridges the midpoint of the season when players bodies start showing the wear and tear of the first 40 games and the minds look towards a much-needed respite before the home stretch.

Adding to the Bucks’ challenge during this period is a formidable slate of opponents that’s included multiple games against teams like Toronto and Charlotte, who are fighting for their playoff lives; perennial powers like Denver and Golden State; as well as up-and-coming challengers like Chicago and Cleveland, who are desperate to prove to the champions that their current success hasn’t been a fluke.

The upcoming schedule doesn’t offer much relief, either as the Bucks return to action Tuesday against a Washington team that still has hopes of making the postseason field followed by a four-game road swing against Portland, the Clippers, Lakers and West-leading Phoenix Suns.

Budenholzer, though, is only looking within and not at the schedule or calendar.

“They played great tonight and we didn’t but I don’t care when it is,” Budenholzer said. “It’s the same point of the season for every team.”

Portis put it even more succinctly, noting “this is the NBA; ‘no babies allowed.’

“Nobody’s going to feel sorry for you or care that you lost by 30. We have to let it go and get ready for Tuesday because the Washington Wizards are gong to come here and try to get a win. We’ve got another opponent coming in hungry so we have to come in and be ready to roll them.”