Damian Lillard. Kiyoshi Mio-USA TODAY Sports

Milwaukee's aging roster could struggle in the playoffs

By Adam Taylor | Last updated 3/18/24

The Milwaukee Bucks are seen as a genuine contender to emerge from the Eastern Conference. However, their struggles throughout the regular season mean they will have a point to prove once the postseason gets underway.

The Bucks are ranked fourth in offensive rating and 17th in defensive rating. Contending teams need balance. Doc Rivers has been working toward improving the team's defense since he took over as head coach.

However, Rivers also sees another issue with the Bucks' overall execution. During a news conference following a practice session on Saturday, the veteran head coach admitted his team needs to improve their halfcourt offense.

“Our movement at half-court has been stuck at times," Rivers said. "That’s the big step for us, we have to become a better half-court team. The playoffs it slows, we’re big, and that’s going to be the key. I watched all the games from last year, and the game came down to a halt, and we were not very good in that. That’s where we have to be a dominant… We have to learn how to be a good team in those settings.”

If Milwaukee wants to come out of the East, it will likely need to get past the Boston Celtics or the New York Knicks. Both of those teams have stout defenses with versatile talent throughout their rosters. Running a high pick-and-roll offense will only get the Bucks so far. As such, they must rely on player movement, specifically when operating off-ball.

The downside for the Bucks is that their roster is aging. Brook Lopez and Khris Middleton are both past their best, and Lillard is almost 34. Milwaukee will struggle to produce a movement-based offense good enough and consistent enough to continually carve open the better defenses in the NBA. That will leave them hoping for herculean performances from their two stars, and that might not be enough to help them navigate their way to an NBA Finals appearance.

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