Milwaukee Bucks: 3 takeaways from Game 2 rout vs. Pistons

3. This series sucks without Blake Griffin

The Bucks’ goal should be to win each series as quickly and easily as possible, with the ultimate prize being more rest and less wear and tear on the starters during their hopeful run to the NBA Finals. Blake Griffin being out for this entire first round series because of a knee injury obviously helps on that front.

However, even the staunchest Milwaukee fan can admit this series holds zero intrigue without Griffin. He was never going to carry the Pistons past the 1-seed in the East, and this first round matchup would probably still end in a sweep either way, but man has it been a depressing blood bath to watch, even from the Bucks’ vantage point.

In Game 2, the Pistons led by one point at the break. Giannis had three fouls, Detroit had knocked down nine 3-pointers (surpassing their total of eight from Game 1) and Luke Kennard, Bruce Brown Jr. and Reggie Jackson had all come to play. But did anyone — even for a second — doubt what would happen as soon as Milwaukee turned on the jets in the second half?

The Bucks are only averaging 11 turnovers per game in the series. Their below-average free throw shooting (70.2 percent) hasn’t been an issue, much like their 15-of-43 shooting from long range wasn’t a problem in Game 1. There’s just no resistance or shred of doubt here.

As enjoyable as it’s been for Bucks fans to watch their team roll, it’s less savory against the depressing Detroit squad missing its best player. It’s a better drinking game than live entertainment.

Andre Drummond definitely can’t be expected to pick up the slack, because even though his historically terrible plus/minus isn’t all his fault, it’s certainly not pretty to look at:

Griffin enjoyed an All-NBA caliber season before injury once again deprived him of a real postseason. Even though the final result would’ve probably been the same, it would’ve been much more enjoyable to watch him and Giannis go head-to-head, or at least provide Milwaukee some kind of challenge in the first round.

Then again, maybe a pass-fail exam to get this franchise its first playoff series win since 2001 is a test in and of itself.