Milwaukee is 0-3 and 14th in the East, with a defense that has given up 119.4 points per 100 possessions. The standings are still tight enough that tonight against Indiana can move the club a full rung.
Last season
Minus-6.1 is where the ledger starts: a 32-50 finish, a net rating 25th of 30, and a missed postseason. Taylor Jenkins took the job April 30 knowing that. The figure proves the roster he inherited needed rebuilding. It does not prove the rebuild is working, because the players who produced it are mostly gone.
This summer
On June 23 Antetokounmpo went to Miami for Herro, Jaquez, Ware and Jakucionis, and the draft added Burries at 10th and Ament at 13th. Payroll sits at $191.4M against a $200.4M tax line, so $9.0M of room remains. That shows Milwaukee is not a taxpayer. It says nothing about whether the front office wants to spend it.
This week
Three straight losses, by 12, 7 and 11 points, put the Bucks at minus-9.3 net. The offense scores 110.2 and the defense allows 119.4. Herro averages 23.7 points and Jaquez 20.7 with 8.7 rebounds, so the scoring is not the shortfall. Three games is a thin sample, but Jim Owczarski of the Journal Sentinel noted that preventing scoring has not been something they do well.
Tonight
Indiana arrives 2-1 and holds the sixth seed, two games ahead of Milwaukee. The Pacers allow 112.9 per 100 possessions, 6.5 fewer than the Bucks. They also play a back-to-back with Zubac day-to-day, and Milwaukee has had a day of rest. Orlando is tenth at 1-2, just one game up, so a win would close the gap on the play-in line.
What is the Bucks' record this season?
Milwaukee is 0-3 and 14th in the East, after losses to Washington, Chicago and Philadelphia.
How much room do the Bucks have under the luxury tax?
Payroll is $191.4M and the tax line is $200.4M, which leaves $9.0M. Milwaukee is over the cap but under the tax.
