The Milwaukee Bucks suffered a surprising 133-122 defeat to the Chicago Bulls on Friday, with Coby White showcasing his scoring skills and proving his progress from last season. This loss has raised questions about Milwaukee’s standing as a contender in the Eastern Conference.
After the game, Damian Lillard openly addressed the team’s struggles, highlighting their defensive lapses as the main issue. He pointed out that they failed to follow the game plan, especially by not closing out on three-point shooters or making the necessary rotations and switches. Lillard emphasized the team’s lack of coordination, noting that players missed cues and allowed Chicago to exploit defensive gaps.
Friday’s performance shows that the Bucks may still be dealing with the same issues that hindered them last season: inconsistency and lack of cohesion. With a powerhouse duo in Giannis Antetokounmpo and Lillard, Milwaukee should be winning against teams like the Bulls, who are still rebuilding.
Coach Doc Rivers will want to avoid similar losses from accumulating, as Milwaukee is expected to rank among the East’s top teams. They need to show they belong in that elite group—otherwise, a major roster reevaluation might be in order, though it’s too early to label the Lillard trade a failure. Thankfully, there are still 80 games left in the season, and random losses can happen. How the Bucks respond in future games will provide more insight into their potential for success this year.
