For the Bucks to achieve their dual goals of reaching the playoffs and keeping Giannis Antetokounmpo happy enough to avoid a trade demand, they can’t afford many more losses like the one they had Wednesday night against Washington. As Eric Nehm of The Athletic details, Milwaukee couldn’t hold on to a three-point lead with 33.2 seconds remaining as CJ McCollum hit two late shots and Antetokounmpo’s last-second attempt bounced off the back of the rim.
Bucks coach Doc Rivers said his team didn’t deserve to come away with a victory over the Wizards, who now have two of their eight wins against Milwaukee. He cited a lack of sustained effort by his players and a reluctance to share the ball.
“We had a lead. We had every shot we wanted at the end of the game,” Rivers said. “Our execution was flawless, even the last play. But the basketball gods sometimes don’t allow you to win when you don’t play right, and we’ve been great the last two games, and tonight, we didn’t pass the ball. We didn’t pass the ball to each other, and we didn’t guard the ball. And so when you play like that, you lose the game.”
Antetokounmpo told reporters Wednesday night that his conditioning and rhythm still aren’t where he wants them to be after missing eight games with a strained right calf. He remains on a minutes restriction, but led the team with 33 points and 15 rebounds against Washington while playing 28 minutes.
Antetokounmpo added a comment indicating that he believes all his teammates may not share a similar commitment to winning.
“Sometimes, it’s just hard when maybe some people are trying to do the right thing, and other people are not trying to do the plays. It might be discouraging at times,” he said. “I’ve been a part of teams, the really good teams, that two, three, four guys try to do the right thing, and they do it, I think, and they pull everybody else. And I’ve been on teams that two, three guys try to do the right thing, and three, four guys not trying to do the right thing, and it pulls the team to the wrong direction.”
At 14-20, the Bucks start the new year in 11th place in the Eastern Conference. They’re just 1 1/2 games behind Atlanta and 2 1/2 games behind Chicago, so a spot in the play-in tournament remains within reach. However, they would need an incredible second half of the season to rise any higher than ninth place.
Nehm points out that a very challenging part of the schedule is about to begin. After hosting Charlotte on Friday, Milwaukee departs on a four-game Western swing to face the Kings, Warriors, Lakers and Nuggets. Eight of the team’s 13 January games are on the road, so the Bucks could be in a much different position when the February 5 trade deadline arrives.
“We’re 11th in the East,” Antetokounmpo said. “My whole career, when I’ve had winning seasons, like January to February before the break, you gotta stack up wins, and we have a tough schedule. I don’t think people understand this can make us or break us. And I don’t want to break. I want to be made.”