The Milwaukee Bucks are handing out more gifts than anyone

The Milwaukee Bucks have been in the giving spirit all year, sending opponents to the charity stripe more than anyone else, which has been disastrous for their defensive efficiency.

For all of Jason Kidd’s foibles, he cannot be criticized on account of passivity. Kidd’s tenure as head coach of the Milwaukee Bucks has been tumultuous and heavily scrutinized, but his aggression and his dedication to action have been unwavering.

Sometimes Kidd’s irrepressible need to do something, anything, manifests itself less-than-ideally for the Bucks. In their Dec. 19 victory over the Cleveland Cavaliers, for example, Kidd could not resist intervening—being aggressive—where it wasn’t needed, instructing Khris Middleton to intentionally miss the second of two free throws, which would have put the Bucks up four with just 1.4 seconds remaining in the game. The Bucks prevailed anyway, but Kidd did his damnedest to snatch defeat from the jaws of victory.

Kidd’s devotion to aggression shines through most notably in his defensive scheme. While the Bucks have moved away from it more recently, their blitz-heavy coverage of pick-and-rolls has drawn the ire of many, as it puts unnecessary strain on the defense.

The consistent aggression of Kidd’s Bucks has, at times, also manifested itself positively. During his tenure, the Bucks’ defense has ranked first, seventh, fifth and fourth in turnover percentage. The Bucks’ ability to consistently get out in transition, ranking sixth, 11th, 15th and third in transition frequency, is a byproduct of that aggression.