Two positives, two negatives from Warriors' 23-point loss to the Bucks

Share

OAKLAND -- There are games that beg to be forgotten immediately and such was the case Thursday night for the Warriors, who after being demolished by the Milwaukee Bucks had to clear plenty of rubble before walking out of Oracle Arena.

They lost their win streak, which ended at eight. They lost a game by 23 points, 134-111, the second-worst home loss in four-plus seasons under coach Steve Kerr.

We had to dig pretty deep to uncover two positives to go along with two negatives, even while excluding the loss of Stephen Curry, which stands to reason. His MRI results were clear, but he’ll at least miss the game Saturday against Brooklyn.

In this instance, however, we must start with the bad:

NEGATIVES

They were annihilated inside and in transition

That the Warriors were outrebounded (46-38) is no surprise. Milwaukee is the best rebounding team in the NBA. But the Warriors also were outpaced and owned in the paint at both ends.

The Bucks posted a whopping 20-4 advantage in fast-break points and an overwhelming 84-34 advantage in points in the paint -- the worst differential in the Kerr era. They shot an astonishing 70 percent inside, compared to 54.8 percent for the Warriors.

Milwaukee guard Malcolm Brogdon acknowledged the team benefitted from the absence of Draymond Green.

“He’s their motor, especially defensively,” he said. “He’s underrated in terms of the presence, the value to the team, what he does in the paint, his activity and his defense.”

True enough. But the Warriors surely expected more than they got from big men Damian Jones, Jordan Bell, who started for Green, Kevon Looney and Jonas Jerebko.

They were lacking in effort

The Warriors lost nearly every physical battle there was, from 50-50 balls and rebounds, to aggression on offense and spirit on defense, to one of the great sins of basketball, watching several of their players being out-hustled by one Buck.

“I think we got a little complacent,” Kerr said. “We won the last eight and we were feeling pretty good about ourselves. And it was just one of those nights.”

The Warriors led by four (21-17) seven minutes into the game, lost the lead 80 seconds later and never saw it again. They were down 13 at the half, 26 after three quarters. Milwaukee was playing inspired basketball and the Warriors were hanging their heads.

“The best characteristic of this team is we always bounce back,” Thompson said. “We will on Saturday. I guarantee that.”

A bounce-back game is needed because the next opponent, the Nets, will make the Warriors earn whatever they get.

POSITIVES

They didn’t get burned from deep

The Bucks entered the game leading the league in 3-point makes, averaging 15.6 per game. They made 16 while losing at Portland on Tuesday and 22 in winning at Sacramento on Sunday.

They managed only nine, tying their season-low, against the Warriors, in 35 attempts.

Going 9-of-35 from deep and winning by 23 points speaks to the sheer command the Bucks had of this game. Who needs 3s when owning the paint and getting to the rim in transition?

Cook also cleans up . . . in garbage time

Third-string point guard Quinn Cook didn’t play a single minute in three of the first 11 games this season, even though primary backup Shaun Livingston was injured.

In 72 October minutes, Cook was 4-of-12 from beyond the arc. In 38 November minutes, he is 7-of-10. He scored 15 points, with 3-of-5 shooting from deep, against the Bucks -- all coming in the fourth quarter during which the Warriors never got closer than 19 points.

A shooting stroke can be a tricky thing, particularly when minutes are so sporadic. But seeing Cook’s 3-ball dropping through the net is a wonderful thing for the Warriors and maybe the most encouraging sight of all on a night when not much went right.

Contact Us