The Bucks keep searching for something, anything, that can stop this season from sliding further off the rails. A 1-7 start has left Milwaukee digging for answers, and the latest loss to the Boston Celtics only sharpened the problem: the effort was there, the comeback was real, but the result still ended up in the same place, a 109-102 defeat.
What made Wednesday night sting was how close the Bucks came after falling behind by 22 in the second quarter. They clawed back, pushed in the second half and even grabbed the lead in the fourth. But the finish never came together, and one of the biggest reasons was Boston’s work on the offensive glass.
The Celtics piled up 19 offensive rebounds, turning them into 14 chance points. Boston did waste some of those extra opportunities, shooting 5-for-19, or 26.3%, on second-chance looks. Still, letting a team collect that many extra possessions is a problem Milwaukee can’t ignore.
That issue has been hanging around all season. Even though the Bucks rank third in the NBA in rebounds at 49 per game, they’re giving up 14 offensive rebounds a night, which ties them for 25th in the league. That’s the kind of gap that can undo everything else.
Jericho Sims looks like the kind of big man who could help there. Rebounding has been his calling card throughout his career, and in his first full season with Milwaukee last year, he averaged 5.5 rebounds per game in just under 20 minutes a night. He’s an athletic, high-motor big, but he’s only appeared in four games this season.
Offensively, Sims has clear limits. He doesn’t space the floor, so his value comes mostly on defense.
Against the Minnesota Timberwolves, though, he flashed what he can bring. He only grabbed two rebounds, but he showed real versatility by switching out onto guards and defending them on the perimeter, including crafty players like LaMelo Ball and Bones Hyland at his size.
Jericho Sims switchability at full display. How many centers in the league are doing this? pic.twitter.com/U4b5iHeMuF
Against Boston, Milwaukee got a solid rebounding night from Myles Turner, who finished with nine boards, 12 points and six assists. But the backup spot didn’t give the Bucks much. Kel’el Ware, a 7-footer, managed only two points and five rebounds in 16 minutes and didn’t make much of an impact on either end.
Ryan Rollins, listed at 6-foot-3, actually pulled down nine rebounds off the bench. He played eight more minutes than Ware, but that still stands out. Ware’s effort and motor have been a talking point before, including during his time with the Miami Heat, and it’s something fans notice quickly when it isn’t showing up.
After watching that Bucks vs. Celtics game from last night this afternoon, I am beyond out on Kel'el Ware.
Zero energy in his game. The number of times he was beaten to a rebound by a guard on his team or an opposing player was ridiculous.
He also plays with zero engagement… pic.twitter.com/i6HDYsBfFU
It’s still too soon to write Ware off. He’s shown flashes for Milwaukee, averaging 10.3 points and 8.2 rebounds per game with three double-doubles so far this season, and this was only one game through eight.
No one is saying Sims is about to solve everything or that a bigger role for him would suddenly flip Milwaukee’s season. But when a team is 1-7, sitting 27th in defensive rating and getting beaten on the offensive boards, it makes sense to look for any edge it can find. Sims may be worth more than the six minutes a night he’s getting now.
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Tyler Herro Has A Bucks Problem He Cant Afford Right Now
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For a Milwaukee team still working through the growing pains that come with a young roster, Herros clutch struggles have taken on extra weight because of what comes next. He is approaching free agency, and the Bucks need to know whether their primary offensive option can be trusted when the game tightens. Right now, that question is hanging over both his season and the teams bigger plans. [Read more 🡒]