Antetokounmpo is right to believe Bucks have turned a corner

Giannis Antetokounmpo. Benny Sieu-USA TODAY Sports

Giannis Antetokounmpo is right to believe that Bucks have turned a corner

By Sai Mohan | Last updated 2/13/24

The Milwaukee Bucks were 2-5 under Doc Rivers prior to Monday's clash against the Denver Nuggets. The Nikola Jokic-led opponent had routinely put away elite opponents this season, with notable wins coming against the Celtics, Clippers, Bucks and Sixers.

As such, there was little reason to trust in the Bucks, and their 2-4 record in February, to put away the reigning champs.

The Bucks came out like gangbusters, though, out-rebounding and out-hustling the Nuggets from the get-go and playing lockdown defense. Midway through the third, the game was headed for a blowout — a result nobody expected — but some within the Bucks foresaw.

After Milwaukee held Charlotte to 84 points last Friday, several Bucks players spoke glowingly of Rivers' defensive schemes and the focus brought about by the new coach. Yet, some in the media refused to highlight Milwaukee's strides on the defensive end due to Charlotte's 12-41 record.

That narrative is sure to change after Monday's win over Denver, which was held to 95 points by Giannis Antetokounmpo & Co. The result meant Milwaukee had held back-to-back opponents under 100 points for the first time in the season — a notable feat for the 23rd-ranked defense in the league.

Back-to-back opponents held under 100 points.
— Milwaukee Bucks (@Bucks) February 13, 2024

After the game, Antetokounmpo and Damian Lillard heaped praise upon Rivers' coaching.

"Guys are just being on the same page," Antetokounmpo said, via ESPN. “Coach Doc is holding us to a high standard. He wants us to defend. He doesn't take lack of effort as an excuse. If you're on the floor, you've got to do your best."

"I just think it's the accountability," Lillard said. "When we're watching film, we're in our meetings, in practice, I think Doc and our entire staff, they're doing a great job of just calling everything out. They're challenging us in a lot of different ways. Our communication, how physical we are, how we carry ourselves as a group."

Antetokounmpo also took to X to pronounce that his team had turned a corner.