When the struggling Bucks get healthy, they have to take advantage of the homestay soft schedule

MILWAUKEE – Amid a string of injuries and inconsistent play on both sides of the ball, Milwaukee Bucks looked like a defending champion in the first month of competition. They are stuck in 10th place in the Eastern Conference, and in 7th-8th place, this is the latest in a season where they are under .500 since 2017.

“Definitely started slower than I thought we’d all like,” Kris Middleton speaking after the win over the Los Angeles Lakers earlier this week. “But it happened, it happened. So we have to find a way out of this reel.”

As an experienced team about to win a title, Milwaukee certainly won’t feel panic. At the same time, the team knew they had to turn things around soon. We’ve been close to 20 percent all season and the Bucks don’t want to end up in a position like Lakers last season, where hobbling through the regular season and hoping to flip the odds in the knockout stages kept them from making any mistakes, and ended up being eliminated in the first round.

“We must start the game winning,” Giannis Antetokounmpo speak. “For me, that’s not the most important thing. For me, the most important thing is to get better and build good habits and play the best basketball between May and June. But in the end the end. that leaves a bad taste in your mouth when you keep losing, so now we have to switch that mentality. We have to win the game, go out there and play hard, play together. “

The good news for the Bucks and their fans is that there are reasons to believe a change is underway. In fact, it could have started with a win over the Lakers and could continue into next week if the Bucks capitalize on improved health and a light upcoming schedule.

First and foremost, Jrue’s Day and Khris Middleton are finally healthy. Holiday missed the first six games of the season with heel and ankle injuries, and then shortly before his return Middleton tested positive for COVID-19 and was sidelined for eight games.

However, Middleton was back in the game against the Lakers, hitting a couple of clutch jumps en route scoring 16 points, 5 rebounds and 6 assists. During the season, Middleton, Holiday and Giannis Antetokounmpo have now played three games together, and the Bucks are leading 3-0 in those games by a plus 40-point margin. While the Bucks are still not at full strength – Brook Lopez and Donte DiVincenzo coming out in the near future – this is the trio that make the team run.

“There’s an inner joke between me and Khris as I always complain to him that ‘I see you too much, I’m tired of you, we have to make some space for each other,'” Giannis joked. But I miss him. Just having him out, he definitely helps the team… It’s good to have him back. It’s good to have him back. “

When they were on the floor with each other last season, the Bucks had a net score of 12.7 plus in the regular season and a real score of 12.3 in the knockout stages. So far this season, it has added 19.3. Now, that’s just over 39 minutes, but the problem remains: The Bucks are pretty good when they have three of their best players together.

Bringing the band back together is always great, and the timing couldn’t have been more fitting for the Bucks. They’ve beaten the Lakers, and now have four games left on the field that looks like the easiest opener of the season. Next is Oklahoma City Thunder, followed by two games against Orlando Magic and combined with Detroit Pistons.

Those three teams have a combined record of 14-29, and the Magic and Pistons are currently in the battle for the final spot in the Eastern Conference. No victory is guaranteed in NBA, as the Bucks found out first-hand, but these are all teams they should absolutely handle. If that’s the case, they could go into Thanksgiving on a five-game winning streak.

It’s too early to really be in a forced-win situation, but the rest of this house is pretty much out in November. Things are finally starting to turn in their favor, and now the Bucks have to take care. business to get their season back on track.