Can Doc Rivers fix the broken Bucks? In addition, Paolo Banchero has the first game of the season with 50 points

On By Littum

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Payton Pritchard hit a 3-pointer late in the third quarter that made Doc Rivers bend over like he was going to throw up. Of course I turned it into dubbing over Seth Rogen in “Superbad” saying that Michael Cera is the fastest boy alive.

Bucks start here?

Milwaukee is off to a troubling start

Almost four weeks ago, an idiot was inside this clear newsletter telling you the Suns and Bucks were forgotten as NBA contenders. It’s me. I’m the idiot. Perhaps. It’s still early days. The Suns are off to a great start, but the Bucks are very much not.

The latter beat the 76ers on opening night when the Sixers missed Joel Embiid and Paul George. Then they lost at home to the Bulls and on the road to the Nets. Last night, Milwaukee hung tough for a while against the defending champion Celtics.

Finally, the dam broke as Boston buried the Bucks with a 119-108 victory behind 30 points from Jaylen Brown and 28 points with eight made 3-pointers off the bench from Payton Pritchard. We’re only four games in, so no one should be toast about losing in Boston… but this Bucks team, which started No. 8 in BetMGM’s NBA title odds, losing a game like that after losses to Chicago and Brooklyn is not a good sign. They just don’t look like the team they’re supposed to be. We’re only 5 percent into the season, but I’m getting worried about the deer. The Bucks started 1-3 under Doc Rivers when he took over midway through last season. Unfortunately, they have been consistent starting 1-3 with him this season.

I decided to ask Eric Nehm – the best in the business to cover the Bucks – what’s wrong and if it’s time to panic.

What is the biggest problem the Bucks have to start this season?

Nehm: They just didn’t bring the necessary effort, intensity and focus to the two games against the Bulls and Nets. Rivers referred to them as “horrible games” after Monday’s loss to the Celtics, and it would be hard to disagree with that assessment. They committed far too many turnovers, gave up too many offensive rebounds and played defense with a general malaise that allowed both the Bulls and Nets to build confidence in the first half and then blow the Bucks out in the second half. If they plan to be one of the top seeds in the Eastern Conference, they can’t give games away against teams they should beat.

Will Doc Rivers be able to fix this? Should Bucks fans be worried?

Nehm: It’s worth noting that the Bucks have a top-heavy roster, and Khris Middleton has yet to play a game this season. For some, this may mean a reason to worry even more, while others may think it is a reason for optimism going forward. I think it’s fair for Bucks fans to worry because the Bucks should have started the season 3-0 before dropping Monday’s game to the Celtics, but there’s still plenty of reason to believe they can turn this around. If Doc Rivers is going to get them back in position to contend for a title this season, it will require him getting more from his roster on the nights they play less talented teams and continuing to build the chemistry between Giannis Antetokounmpo and Damian Lillard. Both of these things are far from impossible.

The last 24

Top three, middle three and bottom three

I no longer do Power Rankings for Athletics. Law Murray has taken the torch, so he’s burning down all your favorite teams with it! However, I just can’t help myself when it comes to ranking teams. Every Tuesday I give you the top three, middle three and bottom three teams. Some say it’s the bravest thing you can do on the Internet to admit your three favorite intermissions. Let’s find out together!

Top three: Celtics (4-0), Thunder (3-0), Cavaliers (4-0)

We expect the Celtics to continue their run. We’re impressed with Thunder’s good start, although it’s not surprising at all. Everyone tagged them to be great this season. Cavs? Sure, their first three wins came against Toronto, Detroit and Washington, but their win in New York was amazing.

Between three: LA Clippers (2-1), Kings (1-2), Rockets (2-2)

I really like the way the Clippers have started the season and James Harden could easily have them at 3-0. The Kings have a losing record, but they narrowly lost to Minnesota and the Lakers. The Rockets are as solid as they come and still excellent defensively.

Bottom three: Blazers (1-3), Jazz (0-3), Pistons (0-4)

I like the way the Blazers are going about things, but they are still bad. The Jazz are winless and can’t be seen on offense. The Pistons are winless and still can’t close out games.

Here’s everything else you need to know from the last 24 hours in the NBA world.

Another fired WNBA coach. The Sun sacked coach Stephanie White. Half the league is without coaches right now. Read more here.

Spotty! Paul George and Sabrina Ionescu at Game 3 of the World Series in New York. PG represented the Dodgers, as a distant Los Angeles native. A question: Is he a Padres fan?

Steph Curry will miss at least two games. His ankle injury is a bummer, but hopefully not serious. Don’t miss Marcus Thompson.

Dwyane Wade Says He Likes His Statue! I mean… what is he going to say? His thoughts.

Jazz forward Taylor Hendricks suffered a gruesome injury. The second-year player appeared to take a normal step on the field and ended up with a broken fibula and dislocated ankle. Here’s to a speedy and full recovery.

Don’t miss this match tonight. Mavericks (2-1) at Timberwolves (2-1), 7:30 PM ET on TNT. We’ll see if Julius Randle is the missing piece to this WCF rematch.

State

Denver desperately needs Jokić minutes

I have some good news regarding the Nuggets (1-2)! They won last night! Yes, it was against the Raptors (1-3). Yes, it took a reverse layup at the end of regulation by Jamal Murray with 0.3 seconds left to force overtime. And yes, Denver nearly blew an eight-point lead in overtime before securing the victory thanks to RJ Barrett missing a clear 3-pointer followed by subsequent missed tip-ins by the Raptors.

Still, Nikola Jokić had 40 points (17 in the fourth quarter and OT), 10 rebounds and four assists as Denver earned its first win of the season. Here are the jaw-dropping stats I promised:

With Jokić on the floor this season: The Nuggets are plus-7 in 116 minutes with an offensive rating of 114.2.

With Jokić on the bench this season: The Nuggets are minus-25 in 33 minutes with an offensive rating of 60.3.

For proper context: The Nuggets are playing at a 99.3 possession pace so far this season. In a full game at that rate with Jokić, Denver would score about 113 points. During the matchup at that pace without the three-time MVP, the Nuggets would finish with 60 points … in the modern NBA! They wouldn’t even go against the 2003-04 Detroit Pistons! Dear Nuggets, get our friend Jokić some help before he retires to breed horses in Serbia.

About last night

Paolo Banchero goes for 50; The Lakers finally lose

Leave it to Magic star Paolo Banchero to give us our first 50-point game of the season. His 37-point first half tied Tracy McGrady’s team record before closing out the Pacers with nine points in the fourth quarter. Orlando won 119-115. Banchero actually left points on the table by going 15 of 22 from the free throw line, but he made up for it with 13 boards and nine dimes. This was the seventh 50-point game in Magic history, as Banchero joined McGrady (four times), Shaquille O’Neal and Nick Anderson.

Josh Robbins, Athletics staff and I have more for you on Paolo’s big night!

Suns 109 (3-1), Lakers 105 (3-1): LeBron James (11 points) barely reached double figures to extend his streak of 10 or more points to 1,226 consecutive games. But Kevin Durant dropped a game-high 30 as Devin Booker added 33 to hand JJ Redick his first coaching loss.

Cavaliers 110 (4-0), Knicks 104 (1-2): Darius Garland had 15 of his 34 points in the fourth quarter to shut out the Knicks at MSG.

Heat 106 (2-1), Pistons 98 (0-4): Stop me if you’ve heard this one before: The Pistons collapsed in the fourth quarter and lost.

Mavericks 110 (2-1), Jazz 102 (0-3): This was an ugly game overall, but Kyrie Irving had 23 points and nine assists.

Rockets 106 (2-2), Spurs 101 (1-2): Jalen Green torched San Antonio for a season-high 36 points. Victor Wembanyama had an off night with 14 points, 20 rebounds, five assists and four blocks. He is the youngest player in NBA history to reach those marks in one game (83 instances).

Wizards 121 (1-2), Hawks 119 (2-): The Hawks started well in their first three games before losing to the Wizards at home. Never trust the Hawks.

Bulls 126 (2-2), Grizzlies 123 (2-2): The Bulls look good, but please let me direct you to Marcus Smart’s start to the season. Last night he shot 0 of 11 and missed all eight of his 3-point attempts, which means he is shooting 23.5 percent overall (8 of 34) and 16.7 (3 of 18) percent from deep.

Kings 111 (1-2), Blazers 98 (1-3): DeMar DeRozan, Domantas Sabonis and De’Aaron Fox put this one away early. By the way, Scoot Henderson looked good off the bench (18 points, five assists).

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(Top photo: David L. Nemec/Getty Images )