Author: Monojit Mandal
The Milwaukee Bucks and coach Mike Budenholzer have parted ways after five seasons together. The decision was made after the Bucks lost 128-126 in overtime to the Miami Heat in Game 5 of the Eastern Conference Round of 16. ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski was the first to break the story.
Budenholzer’s future was questioned after the Bucks let a 16-point lead slip away in the fourth quarter. The Heat outscored the Bucks 32-16 in the fourth quarter, and Jimmy Butler’s shot that tied the game with less than a second remaining forced overtime. Budenholzer couldn’t explain to reporters after the game why the Bucks didn’t call a timeout after Butler’s basket.
In addition, star Giannis Antetokounmpo spoke about the team’s lack of defensive adjustments against Butler throughout the series. The Bucks, who finished with the best record in the NBA regular season, were the first No. 1 seed to fall in the first round of the playoffs since the Chicago Bulls in 2012. They have lost three times in the first two rounds of the post-season in the last four years.
Despite the disappointing result, the Bucks are still considered a top club in the Eastern Conference. The front office will have to work on the squad this summer with a new coach. This summer’s main free agents include Khris Middleton, Jrue Holiday, Brook Lopez, Jae Crowder and Joe Ingles.
Antetokounmpo, who still has two years guaranteed on his contract, will be able to negotiate a three-year extension worth 173 million dollars starting in the offseason. However, ESPN’s Brian Windhorst believes that this is unlikely to happen.
Budenholzer’s tenure with the Bucks includes leading the team to the NBA championship in 2020-21, the franchise’s first title since 1970-71. He won at least 51 games in four of his five years with the team and finished with a 271-120 record.
The Bucks are now looking for a new coach to take the franchise forward. Considering the team’s previous difficulties in the post-season, the decision to break with Budenholzer was not entirely unexpected. It is not yet known who will be chosen for the role.
The Milwaukee Bucks’ executive management will be under pressure to find the perfect coach who can lead the franchise to a major playoff run next season. The Bucks have the potential to be one of the main contenders in the Eastern Conference in the coming years, with Antetokounmpo and Middleton as their main players. However, the team will need to make adjustments to the squad and find a coach who can bring out the best in their stars.
Many people were surprised by the decision to part ways with Budenholzer, given the team’s success over the last five years. However, after the disappointing exit in the playoffs, the Bucks management clearly felt that a change was needed.