2019 NBA Playoffs: Milwaukee Bucks vs. Detroit Pistons preview

Key Question No. 3: Can the Bucks just keep doing what they’re doing?

Some teams pride themselves on their adjustments, changing schemes based on personnel or the opponent. Others change out of necessity, due to an injured player or ineffectiveness. This year’s Milwaukee Bucks, however, entered the scene a different way. They have been laying waste to opponents while just playing their brand of basketball.

Many believe, however, that the Bucks’ current defensive scheme will be exposed in the postseason by certain matchups. Milwaukee has basically decided it wants to take away the most valuable commodity in the game — points at the rim — and force teams to beat them elsewhere.

That strategy worked all season, as the Bucks ranked first in defensive efficiency. Brook Lopez drops back on pick-and-roll actions and seals off the paint, and players such as Antetokounmpo and Eric Bledsoe get to fly around and collect turnovers.

The theoretical weakness would be in guarding stretch-5s, because of how far back Lopez drops to protect the rim. They could pull out Lopez and leave behind him opportunities to cut to the rim. Teams such as the Boston Celtics, Orlando Magic or perhaps the Toronto Raptor could stretch the Bucks in uncomfortable ways.

Unfortunately for fans of major playoff adjustments, the Detroit Pistons are simply not built to hurt the Bucks in that way. Both their starting center, Drummond, and backup center Zaza Pachulia are wholly unable to space things out. Will they break out Jon Leuer from the doghouse?

Facing Al Horford and the Celtics in the second round may necessitate a change in strategy, but the Pistons look unequipped to force that change. Because of that, it seems likely that the Bucks will stay firmly in their comfort zone for this entire series.