Giannis Antetokounmpo and the Milwaukee Bucks are being doubted this coming season given their roster construction. They failed to advance past the first round last season having a second superstar what more now that they are without one.
That’s what analysts are saying but head coach Doc Rivers does not care. They may have lost to reigning champions Oklahoma City Thunder in their fourth last pre-season game but Rivers has a lot of great takeaways in the last two weeks they played different opponents.
Only Myles Turner did not play in that game. Antetokounmpo played his second friendly and finished with 16 points, seven rebounds, and four assists. The rest of the core played with Cole Anthony leading everyone with 21 points.
Rivers played a total of 15 players in that game and he thought he’s seen great things from everyone. He thinks the team has a deep bench and they will be crucial for their upcoming season. This is something he already said weeks ago and now, he feels proven.
“Our pieces fit. And we have a lot of pieces,” he told reporters as quoted by Milwaukee Journal Sentinel’s Jim Owczarski.
“I do think we’re 11-to-12 deep. I think our bench has a chance to be incredible, come in and change games.”
Milwaukee Bucks have flexible line up
Antetokounmpo and Turner’s tandem will be the center of the Bucks offense but Rivers insisted that they are not going to concentrate on the frontcourt.
The one-time champion coach believes he got a flexible squad that will allow him to field a small or big line up on any given night, depending on who they are facing.
“I think we’re gonna have a lineup that can change depending on the opponent,” Rivers explained before the Thunder match up.
“The one lineup we really like is with (Green) and (Gary Trent). The numbers tell you the more shooting you put around Giannis, the better your team is. Then there’s night where the threes (small forwards) are really big and tough – this could be one of those nights if we thought about it – and we can use ‘Kuz’ and we can use Amir and we can use.”
Bucks opening night will be against the Washington Wizards on Wednesday next week. The team currently has no player on the injured list.
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