Milwaukee Bucks: Acquiring P.J. Tucker will not solve defensive issues

The Milwaukee Bucks are reportedly one of the teams interested in acquiring P.J. Tucker from the Houston Rockets. Kevin O’Connor of the Ringer stated on February 22nd that Milwaukee is pursuing Tucker because they can help fix their defensive issues.

Opponents currently have a higher field goal percentage and scoring average against Milwaukee than last season. They shot 41.4 percent from the field last season on 94 attempts per game. The shooting percentage helped opponents score 108.6 points per game.

Opponents have increased their field goal percentage by 4.1 percentage points over the first 31 games this season, shooting 45.5 percent on 90.9 attempts per game. The field goal percentage has helped create 112.1 points per game.

Why P.J. Tucker will not solve the Milwaukee Bucks defensive issues

Unfortunately, acquiring Tucker wouldn’t significantly impact the Bucks’ defense as their defensive issues are related to Mike Budenholzer’s philosophy. Budenholzer has installed a system that prioritizes protecting the paint.

For example, Philadelphia 76ers star Joel Embiid put himself in a position to post up on the right low block against Robin Lopez late in the first quarter of a road game vs. Milwaukee last season. Embiid’s placement allowed Mike Scott to pass him the basketball. Unfortunately, Ersan İlyasova and Kyle Korver came over to help as soon as he received the ball, leading him to take a fade-away hook shot.

Budenholzer’s system has helped the Milwaukee Bucks be in the top five in opponent points in the paint over since 2018 allowing 41.3 per game. Unfortunately, Budenholzer’s philosophy has left the team susceptible to 3-point attempts.

A prime example of this was during the second quarter of a home game against the Sacramento Kings. Brook Lopez, Bobby Portis, Khris Middleton, and Pat Connaughton stood at or below the free-throw line. Consequently, Middleton’s defensive assignment De’Aaron Fox drained an uncontested three as he couldn’t get to the 3-point line in time to contest the shot.

Therefore, Milwaukee has been in the bottom five in opponent 3-point attempts since 2018 allowing 37.7 per game. The only difference is that opponents are making more of those attempts. Before this season, opponents converted 35.8 percent of their threes on 37.8 shots per game. The conversion rate allowed opponents to generate 40.5 points per game, 37.2 percent of the scoring output.

Opponents have increased their 3-point percentage by 3 percent as they have converted 38.3 percent of the shots on 37.4 attempts per game over the first 31 games. The shooting percentage helped opponents 42.9 points per game, 38.3 percent of his scoring output.

Consequently, adding Tucker wouldn’t help fix the Bucks as Budenholzer would have him stand in similar locations to protect the paint. Budeholzer would have to deemphasize protecting the paint and put more players closer to the arc to contest 3-pointers. Sadly, Budenholzer’s recent history indicates he will not make this adjustment immediately.

For example, the NBA community was clamoring for Budeholzer to play his starters more than 36 minutes per game during the playoff series against the Miami Heat. Budenholzer stated that playing his starters more than 36 minutes would hurt the team:

"“You gotta be good for the last 12 (minutes). If anything, I think keeping us fresh and ready to go and compete and all those things and Khris (Middleton) was in a little bit of foul trouble. You know, it’s a high level (of basketball). If you’re going as hard as these guys are in a playoff game, 35, 36 (minutes), I think that’s pushing the ceiling.”"

In conclusion, Milwaukee’s defensive issues are more related to philosophy rather than personnel. Therefore, the organization should push Budenholzer to alter his approach before pursuing Tucker as their issues are more significant than just one player.