Ex-Bucks Champion Gives His Verdict on Patrick Beverley’s Move, Amid Troubling “Issue” With Damian Lillard

The Milwaukee Bucks have had a confusing 2023-24 season so far. Despite their impressive record implying they are among the top teams in the Eastern Conference, their actual performances have been underwhelming. Historically, one of their strong suits, the Bucks have looked defensively weak this season. Their lackluster performances led to the firing of HC Adrian Griffin.

Seasoned head coach Doc Rivers took over the reins from Griffin. However, under Rivers’ leadership, Milwaukee’s performances have failed to improve. In fact, the Bucks have lost six out of nine games since Doc Rivers took charge on 26th January. One of the main problems that the Bucks are facing is their perimeter defense. The Bucks possess two of the weakest perimeter defenders in the league, with Damian Lillard and Malik Beasley starting games. In order to improve this aspect of their roster, the Bucks’ hierarchy decided to acquire Patrick Beverley from the Philadelphia 76ers.

Milwaukee’s acquisition of Pat Bev has gone down well with the Bucks’ faithful. Jeff Teague, former NBA champion with the Bucks, also thinks that Pat Bev’s addition will become a success. During a conversation on his podcast, Club 520, Teague revealed that he’s excited to see Pat Bev in a Bucks’ jersey. He said, “Pat fit Milwaukee perfectly. He ain’t a ball dominant guard. He more of a defender, 3-and-D type of dude… He’s a great catch-and-shoot, and he gonna guard… Everybody in Milwaukee gonna love that sh*t. That’s going to be exciting to see.”

Despite the obvious advantages of having Beverley on the roster, some fans fear that his presence could hamper team chemistry, as he and Dame do not share a good equation. However, that shouldn’t be a problem, as both the players are model professionals. They would likely forget about their previous feud and get on with the game.

Are the Bucks serious title favorites with Pat Bev on their roster?

Fans of the Milwaukee Bucks had ambitions of an NBA title before the start of the season. However, as the season has progressed, those preseason ambitions are looking more unrealistic. Change in coaching also hasn’t improved Milwaukee’s fortunes, as they have slipped to the 3rd spot in the Eastern Conference standings.

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Milwaukee’s offense has been world-class this season, ranking 4th in the league, with an offensive rating of 120.4. But surprisingly, it is their defense that has proved to be the Achilles heel of this Bucks’ side. They possess the 13th worst defense in the NBA, with a defensive rating of 116.9. The Bucks need to significantly improve their defense if they harbor ambition of an NBA title because only two teams in NBA history have ever won a title with a bottom-15 defense. Of course, Patrick Beverley’s addition helps to improve their defense, but other players must also step up. Can the Bucks win the 2024 NBA title? Let us know in the comments below!

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