Bucks' stellar early-season defense bailing out struggling offense
ST. FRANCIS, Wis. -- From the start of training camp, Jason Kidd has let it be known that defense was going to be the Milwaukee Bucks' top priority.
Through eight games, the Bucks have been one of the best defensive teams in the NBA. Milwaukee's defense has allowed it to overcome its early offensive deficiencies to start the season 4-4.
The Bucks are second in the league with a defensive rating (points allowed per 100 possessions) of 94.2 and have held five consecutive opponents to under 100 points for the first time since Dec. 18-30, 2012.
"The defense has been great," Kidd said. "They are competing and understanding what we are trying to do defensively. You have to take pride as a team defensively. If someone gets beat, your teammate is there to help you. Guys are trusting one another and we are starting to end plays by getting the rebound."
The sample size is incredibly small, but the improvement is impressive considering how bad the Bucks were defensively last season. Milwaukee had a defensive rating of 108.9 in 2013-14, better only than the Utah Jazz.
Milwaukee allowed 100 points or less in just 24 of 82 games in 2013-14 but has already done so in six of eight games this year.
Opponents shot 46.8 percent against the Bucks last season, tied for fifth-worst in the NBA. Thus far this season, Milwaukee is holding opponents to a field goal percentage of 41.7. Only Houston, at 41.1 percent, is forcing teams to shoot worse.
The Bucks have held half of their opponents to under 40 percent from the field, including keeping Memphis to 35.4 percent from the field Saturday and then holding Oklahoma City to 33.3 percent Tuesday.
Only twice in the past eight seasons had an NBA team held opponents to 36 percent or under from the field in consecutive games (both times by Indiana) before the Bucks did so this past week.
Considering Milwaukee's offensive rating is second worst in the NBA at 96.1, the Bucks have been able to win games by not taking their offensive issues to the defensive end.
"The offense will come," Kidd said. "A lot of times you can look at trying to get your offense going, but if you can't get stops in this league you won't win. The guys are playing at a high level defensively."
The Bucks are fourth in the NBA in steals (9.25) and sixth in blocked shots (6.0) per game, but maybe more importantly are ninth in the league in rebounding. Larry Sanders' return to the floor has made a significant impact on Milwaukee's defense, as he's tied for sixth in the league in blocks per game (2.0) and tied for 18th in steals per game (1.63). He leads the team in rebounding, averaging 8.1 boards per game.
"Larry is the anchor of that defense, when you look at what he's able to do on the perimeter and also be able to change shots, block shots and rebound the ball," Kidd said. "He's the one that gets it going and everybody else falls in line."
Florida swing: Following two days of practice, the Bucks are embarking on a two-game road trip to two places they haven't found much success of late in Orlando and Miami.
Milwaukee hasn't won in Miami since Jan. 22, 2012, a span of five games. But first, the Bucks will look to end their longest active road losing streak when they face the Magic on Friday night.
Terry Porter coached the last Bucks team to win in Orlando, with Michael Redd, Desmond Mason, Dan Gadzuric and Mo Williams joining current Bucks center Zaza Pachulia in the starting lineup on Dec. 29, 2004.
The Bucks have lost 16 straight in Orlando since, including two early-season losses at Amway Center in 2013-14.
In a similar rebuilding phase as the Bucks, the Magic are 3-6 on the season coming off a 97-95 victory over the New York Knicks on Wednesday. Center Nikola Vucevic leads Orlando in scoring at 18.7 points per game, while offseason addition Evan Fournier is averaging 18.2 points.
Tobias Harris did not receive a contract extension from Orlando prior to the Oct. 31 deadline, but the former Bucks forward is averaging 16.9 points and 8.3 rebounds in nine games.
Following the game in Orlando on Friday, the Bucks will get their first glimpse at the new-look Miami Heat on Sunday. Without LeBron James, Miami is 5-3 to start the season.
Chris Bosh leads the Heat in scoring at 21.8 points per game, while Dwyane Wade is putting in 19.8 a game.
Bucks forward Khris Middleton (right knee soreness) participated in practice Thursday and accompanied the team to Orlando. He is listed by the team as questionable for Friday's game against the Magic.
Middleton did not play last Friday in Detroit and sat out the first half of Saturday's victory over Memphis before playing 12 minutes in the second half. The Bucks announced Middleton would not play against the Thunder due to the knee soreness just a half hour before tip Tuesday.
The only player to appear in all 82 games for the Bucks last season, Middleton is averaging 9.7 points and 3.5 rebounds per game for Milwaukee this year.
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