Philadelphia – Wesley Matthews He hadn’t taken a shot since the third quarter, but as the game approached, Bucks In the Bucks’ season opener in Philadelphia Thursday night, coach Mike Budenholzer knocked him to the court. He had 32.9 seconds left.
More than 30 minutes in real time had passed since Matthews attempted the shot. But he stood with his hands in the left corner. Giannis Antetokounmpo I walked by the ball rolling on the floor waiting to start play. Created by Budenholzer with the Bucks down two at the moment of the game’s end.When he finally picked up the basketball near the half-court circle, Antetokounmpo drove from Matthews to the other side of the floor and initiated a dribbling handoff Grayson Allen to the right wing.
Allen turned the corner 76ers center Joel Embiid And I managed to get into painting.Matthews defender as Allen enters lane Tobias Harris I reached out and tried to grab the ball, but it was a mistake. Matthews moved up the floor just as Harris went to help, opening himself up for a catch-and-shoot three from the top of the key.
Bang. Matthews knocked down his 3 to give the Bucks his 1-point lead and eventually became the winning basket in his 90–88 win for the Bucks.
“I’ve been playing this game for so long that I have to find other ways to keep myself engaged. On the defensive end, crash on the offensive end, talk, etc. You can have moments like that, no matter what,” Matthews said. “Being in the backyard, being in the park, playing alone, counting down ‘three, two, one’ and dreaming of that moment on a stage like this.” Grayson was able to find me and I was able to shoot. ”
Matthews is well aware of the big names on the Bucks.Last season, on Christmas Day celticsMatthews hit a 3 that also turned into the game-winning basket.
‘That’s what he does,’ says Bucks center Brooke Lopez said after the game. “In the second half, in Game 3, if the ball goes into Wes’ hands, you’re incredibly confident it’s going to come in. If he doesn’t touch the ball the entire half, it doesn’t matter. He’s got a solid defense, he’s done his job, and if the ball is in his hands, he knows it’s going up and he can pretty much count it.”
Matthews undoubtedly led the Bucks with a massive 3, but he scored just 90 points in the season opener, but managed to win the game due to a strong performance on defense.
“If you told me I could score 90 points this morning and win the game, I would say ‘no way,'” said Giannis Antetokounmpo of the Bucks. “But at the end of the day, this is our goal. We want him to be one of the best defensive teams, we want to fight together and we did it tonight. ”
At the start of the preseason, Bucks associate head coach Charles Lee, who stood in for Budenholzer as he recovered from offseason surgery on his right ankle, told reporters that the Bucks will be more aggressive this season. He said he wanted to emphasize defending the three-point line.
Since the 2018-19 season, when Budenholzer took over at Milwaukee, the Bucks’ defensive plan has focused on keeping the team away from the rim and forcing opponents to shoot pick-and-roll contested floaters. . With these non-negotiable focuses, the Bucks often surrendered a large amount of his 3-point look to opponents. While it often prevented the opponent’s best shooters from getting clean looks, the rest of the roster usually found lightly contested catch-and-shoot looks from the 3.
This season Budenholzer decided it was no longer acceptable and changed it to something more Aggressively counter your opponent’s 3-point looksThe changes didn’t work out in the preseason as the Bucks surrendered too many good looks to the rim while trying to keep the team out of danger from the long range.
In Thursday’s regular season opener against the 76ers, the Bucks’ defensive shot profile looked much better.
| at the rim | mid range | 3 points | |
|---|---|---|---|
|
frequency |
28/82 (33%) |
30/82 (39%) |
24/82 (28%) |
|
Accuracy |
53.6% |
50.0% |
20.8% |
The Sixers guard as the game progresses James Harden (31 points, 8 rebounds, 9 assists) found a groove in midfield. His hot shot spurred a 4th quarter comeback and allowed the 76ers to briefly take the lead, but the 76ers were having a bad night offensively overall. And the Bucks, who dictate what it takes for the 76ers to score, had a lot to do with it.
“He’s a great player,” Antetokounmpo said of Harden after the game. but used a lot of tough 2-shots, tough floaters, off-the-dribbling midrange, and I hope other teams have tough 2-shots, long 2-shots, and lots of floaters. I have.”
With little help from the shooter, Harden ended up with 24 shots. This turned out to be the same number of shots the 76ers had from behind his line for three-pointers as a team. It’s worth noting that the 76ers’ current staff may not be able to produce quite a few of his 3-point attempts, but at least for one night, the Bucks executed their new defensive priorities well, That makes them strong.
The Bucks have always tried to use their size defensively, with Lopez and Antetokounmpo patrolling the paint. This will be especially important against Joel Embiid and his 76ers. Most teams don’t have enough players to defend Embiid and he doesn’t have a single player, but the Bucks have started two of his players that could give him problems, and Lopez said Thursday Played particularly well against Embiid. The 76ers big man was frustrated throughout the game, only making six of his 21 shooting attempts.
“You seem to forget how important he is to our defense,” Antetokounmpo said. You can see the load that Brook has to carry when he’s not on the floor, and like me and Bobby[Portis]we had to do everything. I had to take a hit from Mann, I had to box out, I had to rebound, I had to block a shot, just with Brook there, big Body, he can help us rebound. He can block shots. He can box out… he’s incredible.
There aren’t many players on the planet as big and strong as Embiid looks like this around the basket.
Of defending Embiid, Lopez said, “It’s hard because he’s so strong and so athletic. “And he moves. The combination makes it difficult because you have to be able to react and get up and fight him without fouling him while he’s pushing you (which you have to do). He’s doing a great job of it.”
Lopez was able to block the dunk attempt, even as Embiid moved Lopez and put him under the rim with a strong move.
“Brooke is special,” Matthews said. “He is one of the most underrated players in this league and has been for a long time. You don’t understand the role, as you know, Brook is the all-time leading scorer in Nets history, it’s because he’s the floor spacer, the rim protector, and he’s doing himself for the greats on this team. It speaks to self-sacrifice. I don’t think he gets enough credit for it.”
By the end of the game, Embiid was less interested in attacking Lopez at the rim and instead wanted to find a comfortable spot for himself in midrange.
Embiid has a great touch and he’s used it to his advantage over the years, but letting him attempt this shot in a clutch moment is a big win for the Bucks. By settling for jump shots, Embiid didn’t put the Bucks in danger of giving up a free throw in the moment of clutching or giving up an open shot to one of his teammates after helping too much. and a credit to overall defense.
Going forward, the Bucks will need to find a better offensive rhythm, but the Bucks have implemented new defensive priorities in an ugly away win against one of the Eastern Conference’s top teams with a strong defensive performance. The 2022-23 season.
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(Brooke Lopez and Joel Embiid Photo: Bill Streicher / USA Today)
