Camille Davis and Justin Garcia here, the hosts of the daily Locked On Bucks podcast, with your daily Locked On Bucks newsletter. Each day we bring you the biggest stories about the Bucks and the NBA, including the hottest links to other stories you need to read. Plus, Josh Lloyd delivers daily fantasy notes to crush your league.
Is Khris Middleton’s bench move the Milwaukee Bucks’ secret weapon?
Jan 8, 2025; Milwaukee, Wisconsin, USA; Milwaukee Bucks forward Khris Middleton (22) shoots during warmups prior to the game against the San Antonio Spurs at Fiserv Forum. Mandatory Credit: Jeff Hanisch-Imagn Images | Jeff Hanisch/Jeff Hanisch-Imagn Images
Bucks’ Lineup Changes: Middleton’s Health and Defensive Improvements
The Milwaukee Bucks have made some significant changes to their lineup, with Khris Middleton moving to the bench. This decision, as explained by head coach Doc Rivers, is primarily due to ongoing health concerns. Middleton has been dealing with tendonitis, and the team is taking a cautious approach to manage his minutes and recovery.
Rivers’ comments about Middleton’s condition raised some eyebrows. He mentioned that Khris isn’t consistently moving the way they’d like him to, and there’s no real sample size to evaluate his performance because he hasn’t been fully healthy yet. This revelation is concerning, especially considering how careful the Bucks have been with Middleton’s return to play.
The silver lining in this situation is the Bucks’ improved depth compared to last season. We now have more options to fill the void left by Middleton’s reduced minutes. Players like AJ Green, Gary Trent Jr, and Taurean Prince can step up and contribute meaningful minutes.
Defensive Improvements
Despite the challenges with Middleton’s health, the Bucks have shown remarkable improvement on the defensive end. Since our 2-8 start, we’ve climbed to the fourth-best defensive rating in the league. Only elite defensive teams like the Oklahoma City Thunder, Orlando Magic, and Houston Rockets have performed better during this stretch.
What’s particularly impressive is our transition defense. While we still allow a high frequency of transition opportunities (third-most in the league), we’ve improved to 13th in transition defense efficiency since the 2-8 start. This is a significant leap from being in the bottom 5 in frequency and bottom 10 in efficiency during those first ten games.
Credit must be given to assistant coach Greg Buckner for his defensive schemes. The way we’ve deployed Giannis Antetokounmpo and Brook Lopez has made it incredibly difficult for opponents to score at the rim. We’re forcing teams to beat us from the perimeter, a strategy that has brought us success in the past.
As we continue to build on these defensive improvements, our focus now shifts to unlocking our offensive potential. With Giannis and Damian Lillard leading the charge, we have the firepower to become a formidable two-way team.
For more insights and a deeper dive into the Bucks’ lineup changes and defensive strategies, tune into the Locked On Bucks podcast for this and much more.
Other Topics in Today’s Locked On Bucks Podcast:
• Andre Jackson Jr.'s role and minutes distribution
• AJ Green’s potential as a starter
• Upcoming matchups against Orlando Magic and New York Knicks
Jan 4, 2025; Inglewood, California, USA; Los Angeles Clippers forward Kawhi Leonard (2) reacts after making a three point basket against the Atlanta Hawks during the first half at Intuit Dome. | Kiyoshi Mio/Kiyoshi Mio-Imagn Images
Kawhi Leonard left the Clippers behind in Denver on Wednesday, he travelled solo back to Los Angeles to meet his family as they evacuated their home in the Pacific Palisades. As of Thursday, the Palisades Fire — the biggest of the five separate fires burning in L.A. — has scorched through close to 20,000 acres of land, homes, buildings and infrastructure. Leonard’s family and their home are safe, and because natural disasters thankfully still trump the audience demand for athlete participation, Leonard’s also able to be away from the team and focus on what’s most important.
Not to draw too flimsy a point between disaster and basketball, but Leonard’s return to the Clippers had been top of mind for me prior to the fires, and his necessary absence now offers another lens to view his prolonged absence this season.
After he was pulled from Team USA’s Olympic play this summer, Leonard underwent a surgical procedure on his right knee. It’s same knee he had surgically repaired after an ACL tear in 2021 and a meniscus tear in April 2023, as well as the quad injury that eventually led to him parting ways with the Spurs over concerns of recovery mismanagement.
Katie Heindl is a credentialed NBA and WNBA writer, her bylines have appeared with The New York Times Magazine, SLAM, The Athletic, Yahoo Sports, Dime, Rolling Stone, among others. She writes the bestselling Substack, Basketball Feelings and is working on a book of the same name.
Rumor Speculation grows around the potential Jimmy Butler trade involving the Milwaukee Bucks, Phoenix Suns, and Miami Heat, with insights from Pat Riley. (Brew Hoop)
Milestone Giannis Antetokounmpo continues to etch his name in history, breaking legends’ records during the Bucks’ game against the Spurs. (Behind the Buck Pass)
Ranking With the trade deadline approaching, the Bucks’ position in the latest NBA Power Rankings is under scrutiny as teams jostle for playoff spots. (Bleacher Report)
Preview The Milwaukee Bucks will meet the Orlando Magic at the Amway Center at 7:00 PM ET. Read the preview.(NBA)
Must Read Steve Kerr and JJ Redick share the impact of the Los Angeles fires on their families’ lives. (ESPN)
Biz Aging NBA stars like Jimmy Butler may be in for a rude awakening. (Forbes)
Friday’s NBA Fantasy Basketball Slate: Injury Updates and Streaming Options
Jan 8, 2025; Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA; Philadelphia 76ers forward Guerschon Yabusele (28) drives against Washington Wizards forward Richaun Holmes (22) during the fourth quarter at Wells Fargo Center. Mandatory Credit: Bill Streicher-Imagn Images | Bill Streicher/Bill Streicher-Imagn Images
The NBA action continues with seven games on tap for Friday, and there’s no shortage of intriguing storylines to follow. Let’s dive into the key matchups and player situations that fantasy managers need to keep an eye on.
New Orleans Pelicans vs. Philadelphia 76ers
The Pelicans-Sixers matchup is plagued by absences on both sides. For New Orleans, Herb Jones (shoulder), Brandon Ingram, and Trey Murphy (ankle) are all sidelined. However, Zion Williamson is set to return after sitting out the previous game. The Sixers will continue to be without Joel Embiid, Andre Drummond, and KJ Martin.
Milwaukee Bucks vs. Orlando Magic
The Magic are on a back-to-back, while the Bucks are in a favorable schedule spot. Giannis Antetokounmpo, Damian Lillard, and Khris Middleton are all listed as probable for Milwaukee. Orlando will be without Gary Harris, and Jalen Suggs is expected to remain sidelined. Paolo Banchero is reportedly set to return for this game.
Don’t let these episodes pass you by — stay locked in with the latest Locked On Bucks podcasts.
Giannis Antetokounmpo and the Bucks get the best of Victor Wembanyama and the Spurs in a 121-105 win Camille Davis and Frank Madden break down the Bucks’ offensive challenges and potential solutions, offering insights into the evolving dynamics of the team. Examining the Bucks Best Lineups and how to Optimize the Starting Five How are the Milwaukee Bucks are adjusting their strategy with Khris Middleton back in action alongside Giannis Antetokounmpo and Damian Lillard? The episode dives into the effectiveness of different player groupings, including the promising performances of AJ Green and Andre Jackson Jr.
Can the Milwaukee Bucks maintain their momentum after a blowout win over the Toronto Raptors? With Giannis Antetokounmpo and Damian Lillard leading the charge, the Bucks put together a much needed win over the Toronto Raptors. Explore the dynamics of the Milwaukee Bucks’ recent victory, and what went differently for this team against another sub-.500 opponent. The discussion also highlights Andre Jackson Jr.'s impact and the best role for Khris Middleton.
