Milwaukee Bucks season opener: likes and dislikes

The Milwaukee Bucks ended the 2024/25 NBA season on a high note, defeating the undermanned Philadelphia 76ers 124-109 on Wednesday night. It was a promising start, but not without a few things to keep in mind.

Let's look at what stood out from Milwaukee's first game of the season, for better or worse.

How: Bucks off-ball movement

The days of Bucks players camping out on the sidelines waiting for something to happen are over. Doc Rivers preaches movement off the ball, and Milwaukee's players have clearly bought into it.

It's especially clear when Giannis Antetokounmpo or Damian Lilalrd have the ball in their hands – everyone else knows it's time to move. Even Bobby Portis keeps his eyes peeled, forgoing his usual middle-of-the-road look to instead hit cutters like Taurean Prince on backdoor slashes.

Prince's two cuts, in particular, embody the shift in Milwaukee's offense. In the first clip, Portis catches the ball in the middle of the corner and instead of assessing his man, he sees Prince striking from the weak wing as the defense watches the ball. Simple bucket.

In the second clip, Prince again moves up the floor from the opposite wing and cuts into the heart of the defense at just the right moment. Antetokounmpo rewards him with a clever pass that leads to another layup.

This is what the new five-out offense looks like: constant movement, space to attack and opportunities for role players to celebrate.

Like: The Lillard-Lopez two-man game

Much has been made of the Antetokounmpo-Lillard duo, but it was Dame and Brook Lopez who stole the show in the opening game. Their pick-and-roll synergy carries over from last season and is already creating opportunities for everyone.

Make the first play: Lillard passes a perfect pocket pass to a rolling Lopez at the free throw line, getting help from the weakside corner. Lopez calmly distributes the ball to Prince for a clean third corner. Simple, effective, devastating.

On the next possession, Lopez sets up a high screen for Lillard. The defense fails and Dame punishes her with a pull-up three that reaches the bottom of the net.

Later in the same half, they connect with a beautiful pick-and-roll from halfcourt. Lillard shakes the screen defender with a hesitant move near the three-point line, punches past Lopez's man and finishes with a silky left-handed layup.

If Antetokounmpo and Lillard take the time to develop chemistry, this duo will be more than enough to keep the offense rolling.

For example: Gary Trent Jr. is the Bucks' defensive stopper

With Paul George and Joel Embiid sidelined, the Sixers leaned heavily on Tyrese Maxey, who took 31 shots (yes, 31). Gary Trent Jr. took this task personally – and made sure it wouldn't be an easy night for Philly's leading scorer.

Maxey finished with 25 points on those 31 attempts, a testament to how well Trent Jr. made him work.

The first possession in the clip above stands out: Maxey dribbled 19 times, took five screens and fired 16 seconds after halftime – all to score a contested jump over Trent Jr. The Bucks will make that effort every time.

Trent Jr. also showcased his ability to battle through screens, glide through traffic and hang on to his man. This type of perimeter defense was what Milwaukee lacked at its two-guard position last year, and it will be crucial for the Bucks as they navigate the long season.

Dislikes: Bucks defensive rebounding

Milwaukee gave up 17 offensive rebounds to the Sixers, a concerning number that put a damper on an otherwise strong defensive performance. The defensive possession doesn't end until the rebound is secured, and the Bucks struggled to finish the job.

Antetokounmpo was one of the biggest offenders, relying too much on his athleticism instead of boxing out. Too often he watched the ball instead of punishing his man.

The Bucks have the personnel to eliminate this problem, but it will require more discipline and attention to detail – especially when it comes to helping the reliever penetrate dribbles.

This needs to be addressed quickly if Milwaukee wants to limit second chance points.

Dislikes: Giannis' Kryptonite – free throws

It's hard to say who enjoyed Giannis' battle on the line more – the Sixers or their fans. Each pair of missed free throws earned the crowd free chicken nuggets, and Antetokounmpo gifted the equalizer with two sets of stones.

He finished the night 9 of 16 from the stripe, which was just 56.3 percent. He's hovered in the mid-60s the last two seasons, but if Milwaukee wants to avoid “Hack-a-Giannis” situations late in games, he'll need to push that number into the low 70s. It's just one game, but it's something to keep an eye on as the season progresses.

Overall, there was a lot to like about the Bucks' first game – and a few areas that still need improvement. It's a long season, but the early signs are encouraging.