Most teams welcoming a new coach and a seven-time All-Star likely would experience a few growing pains, and the Milwaukee Bucks are proving to be no exception.
After splitting their first four games, the Bucks’ adjustment period continues when they face the visiting New York Knicks on Friday in their first game of the NBA’s inaugural in-season tournament.
Milwaukee coach Adrian Griffin is looking for an improved defensive effort after his team lost 130-111 to the Toronto Raptors on Wednesday.
Malik Beasley scored 20 points to lead the Bucks, who acquired star guard Damian Lillard from the Portland Trail Blazers in late September. After scoring 39 points in an opening-night win, Lilliard has averaged 15.3 in his past three games.
The Bucks also are in a transition period as Griffin looks to integrate Lillard into a starting rotation that includes Khris Middleton, Brook Lopez and Giannis Antetokounmpo. Everyone involved is eager to start becoming more consistent on both ends of the floor.
New York is also looking for quick solutions after losing three of its first five games. Star forward Julius Randle’s early-season shooting woes continued in a 95-89 loss to the Cleveland Cavaliers on Wednesday.
Randle scored six points as he shot 3-of-15 from the field and missed all six attempts from 3-point range. The two-time All-Star is shooting 27.6 percent from the field and 25.8 percent from beyond the arc through five games.
New York played Wednesday’s contest without starting wing RJ Barrett, who is listed as day-to-day with a sore left knee.
With Barrett sidelined against Cleveland, the Knicks were held to 34.8 percent shooting from the field while going 5-of-30 (16.7 percent) from 3-point range.
While most of the early focus has been on Randle’s struggles, New York guard Immanuel Quickley pointed to the bigger picture. New York has lost its past six meetings against Milwaukee, including all three last season.
