A 1-11 start is the kind of opening that turns concern into alarm. Most sports experts expected the Bucks to struggle without Giannis, but there is a difference between anticipating a difficult adjustment and watching the Bucks lose 11 of their first twelve games. Giannis’ absence leaves more than a scoring gap; it removes a defensive force, a transition threat, and a player that opponents must plan around. Still, a rough eight-game stretch doesn’t settle an entire season. The immediate question is whether the Bucks can find a reliable identity without him, or whether this start is a sign of deeper trouble.
In a frustrating season, Ryan Rollins and local boy Tyler Herro (Greenfield Whitnall High School) have given fans something to cheer about. Herro leads the team in scoring while shooting 46% from the field, and Rollins has paced Milwaukee in assists. Their production has stood out against a backdrop of inconsistent team effort. Both have offered reasons for optimism, but their contributions also highlight how much more the Bucks need from the rest of the roster. Individual bright spots can lift a season, but turning it around takes a collective effort.
If the Bucks are to become a winning team, they are going to need rookie Brandon Burries to show some improvement. Burries has earned a chance to show what he can do in the starting lineup, and now the challenge is making his impact last from one possession to the next. The first-round pick needs to show more focus on defense – fighting through screens, rotating, and blocking out for rebounds. On offense, he produces highlight plays when he has the ball, but he could make more sound decisions and take better quality shots. The opportunity is there; consistency will determine what he makes of it.
Early-season struggles don’t have to define the Bucks. They can start turning things around by defending with purpose, communicating on switches, and making every rebound a fight. On offense, patience matters. Move the ball, pass up contested shots, and trust that a better shot will come. If the Bucks commit to fundamentals now, there is plenty of time to turn this season around.
I’m born and raised in Milwaukee. I’m a product of MPS. I graduated from Jackson State University in 1990 and University of Wisconsin Law School in 1994. I have practiced as a criminal defense lawyer since 1994. I’m passionate about writing and have been a free-lance sportswriter since 2023. I currently reside in my childhood home in the Rufus King neighborhood.
