Slumping Bucks Slide, Surging Trail Blazers Rise in Latest NBA Title Odds

Bucks Bursting in Bubble

In their first “bubble” game, the Bucks beat East-rival Boston 119-112. Since then, they’ve lost to Houston and Brooklyn, rallied past Miami, then lost to Dallas and Toronto. It’s been an ugly restart for a team that looked like a juggernaut from the season’s opening tip in October to the shutdown in March.

Kind of the broad concern is just the continued effort and just the execution defensively, not being who we are, being as good and as committed as we are on that end of the floor,” Bucks coach Mike Budenholzer told reporters after Monday’s 114-106 loss to Toronto. It was a game in which overwhelming MVP favorite Giannis Antetokounmpo was out following oral surgery.

“The turnovers are something we have to improve, we have to get better. Really, our thoughts and our focus should be on how do we get to an elite defensive team and being a team that’s really, really good on that end? I think that will take some of the pressure off the turnovers and the offense. Until we get better on that end, that’s where our focus should be,” Budenholzer added.

Meanwhile, Damian Lillard who is sixth in the MVP race, according to Draft Kings scored 51 points to help Portland beat Philadelphia.

“When the pressure is on, I think he approaches with a determination that is unparalleled,” Blazers coach Terry Stotts said at a Monday presser. “I’ve seen him in the playoffs and, obviously, this is our playoffs so far.”