The Milwaukee Bucks\u2019 season may only be four games in, but their 1-3 record has fans feeling uneasy. After a strong opening win against the Philadelphia 76ers, Milwaukee has struggled to maintain momentum, with defensive lapses and execution issues leading to three consecutive losses. While it\u2019s natural to worry, it\u2019s also important to remember that the NBA season is long, and early struggles don\u2019t define a team\u2019s fate. Here are three critical areas the Bucks need to address to get back on track and build momentum moving forward.<\/p>\n
One glaring issue has been the Bucks\u2019 inability to contain opposing guards, as they have consistently put up big numbers. After shutting down Tyrese Maxey<\/a> in the opener, Milwaukee has since allowed Coby White<\/a>, Cam Thomas<\/a>, Dennis Schroder,<\/a> and Payton Pritchard<\/a> to have high-scoring games. The upcoming schedule won\u2019t get any easier, with matchups against elite guards like Ja Morant<\/a>, Darius Garland<\/a>, and Donovan Mitchell<\/a>.<\/span><\/p>\n To address this, Doc Rivers<\/a> could consider giving more minutes to younger, athletic players like Andre Jackson Jr.<\/a>, whose quickness could better counter high-energy guards. If relying on the current roster isn\u2019t enough, Milwaukee may need to explore trade options<\/a> to bring in a defensive specialist capable of handling speedy guards.<\/span><\/p>\n Rebounding, particularly on the defensive end, has been a weak spot for the Bucks. Despite having a frontcourt that includes Giannis Antetokounmpo<\/a>, Brook Lopez<\/a>, and Bobby Portis<\/a>, Milwaukee is near the bottom in securing defensive rebounds. Opponents have capitalized on this, with the Nets scoring 21 second-chance points<\/a> in the game against Milwaukee. The Bucks\u2019 inability to limit offensive boards gives opponents extra possessions, making it harder for Milwaukee to control games.<\/span><\/p>\n Rivers has two main options to address this. He can adjust rotations to include younger, athletic players like <\/span>Tyler Smith<\/a> or Chris Livingston<\/a>, <\/span>who have shown rebounding potential in limited preseason minutes. While they haven\u2019t seen much regular-season action, both players demonstrated some capability on the boards in preseason: Smith grabbed 10 rebounds in one outing against Dallas, while Livingston had four rebounds in a game against Detroit. Though neither has significant experience, their energy and physicality could help the Bucks cut down on costly second-chance opportunities. <\/span><\/p>\nImprove Defensive Rebounding and Limit Second-Chance Points<\/span><\/h3>\n