Milwaukee Bucks’ standout player, Giannis Antetokounmpo, expressed his frustration regarding his team’s lack of intensity following a disheartening 116-94 defeat to the New York Knicks. This loss left the Bucks with a disappointing record of 2-7 for the season, aggravating Antetokounmpo’s concerns about their competitiveness on the court.
“Coming to New York, playing the way we’re playing, teams will not just give us games,” he stated. “We need to approach each possession as an opportunity to compete and strive for improvement.” Antetokounmpo underscored the necessity for the team to elevate its effort on the court, noting that they fell short in this regard during the game against the Knicks.
Throughout the match, Milwaukee found themselves trailing by as many as 30 points, marking their seventh defeat out of the last eight games. Antetokounmpo managed to contribute 24 points and 12 rebounds, while Damian Lillard added 19 points; however, the team struggled to generate offense beyond their two star players.
“If you’re not going to go out there and compete, you’re not going to win the game,” he pointed out, suggesting that even when hard work doesn’t guarantee a win, it still provides an essential shot at success. The Bucks’ defense faltered, allowing four three-pointers from the Knicks’ Karl-Anthony Towns in the first half and conceding numerous easy baskets in transition.
The Bucks faced a challenging game, as they were outperformed in various areas. New York dominated with a 7-1 advantage in steals and outscored Milwaukee 21-8 on fast breaks, holding a slight edge in rebounding as well at 48-41. Lillard acknowledged the team’s frustrations, emphasizing the importance of recognizing their situation: losing games while striving to redefine their identity and playstyle.
Antetokounmpo’s disappointment was particularly heightened after the Bucks had shown improvement in previous games, including close contests against the undefeated Cavaliers and a convincing victory against Utah. However, he felt the team failed to carry that momentum into the game against the Knicks. “We played great last night. We come to New York, we lost by (22),” he remarked.
As the Bucks now hold a 19-26 record this season under coach Doc Rivers, Antetokounmpo took a moment to express confidence in his coach. He remarked, “Doc is doing his best. He’s trying to figure out the rotation. Kudos to him for that. At the end of the day, it’s on us, the players, to go out there and compete.”
Despite the slow start to their season, the Bucks are set to play seven of their next eight games at their home turf, Fiserv Forum. Antetokounmpo emphasized the importance of the upcoming match against the Boston Celtics, warning, “If we don’t compete, we’re gonna lose by 30.” The stakes are high as Milwaukee looks to improve their performance and regain their competitive edge in the league.