Game thread: Versatile Bucks present problems
MILWAUKEE -- The lineup juggling continues for the Bucks ... and that could present more problems for the Hawks.
Hawks coach Mike Budenholzer said Saturday that the Bucks present problems because of the "unique" lineups that can send out during games.
I asked Bucks coach Jason Kidd if he gets creative by a gut feeling or by necessity.
"There are no set rotations," Kidd said. "With injuries, we're forced to sometimes play different combinations. The makeup of our team is very unique where we can play guys at different positions. We can play Ersan (Illasova) at the 5 or we can play Giannis (Antetokounmpo) at the 5. That's just the luxury of having that. Also, you have to give the guys credit in the locker room to be able to play with the different lineups that they have all season."
Budenholzer reiterated his concern with the Bucks, especially defensively, before the Sunday afternoon matchup.
"They've got a lot of guys who are flexible, both offensively and defensively. They put them in positions that test us, test everybody, every night. He's done a great job of taking that flexibility and making it a positive."
Also:
* Kidd confirmed that newly-acquired Michael Carter-Williams will not play due to his foot injury.
* The Bucks officially parted ways with Larry Sanders. "I think both parties came to an agreement," Kidd said. "We wish him the best of luck. It's the next guy up. We've been playing without him for a while now, so I don't know if it was that much of a distraction."
* The Hawks will look to rebound - again - from a bad loss in Milwaukee. The Hawks were crushed by the Bucks on Dec. 26 (after a holiday break). The next night they avenged the loss here. Now, the Hawks are coming off a 25-point loss to the Raptors. If they can't bounce back, the will have season-long three game losing streak.
* Hawks wing Thabo Sefolosha missed his ninth game as he continues to rehab from a calf strain.
About the Author
Chris Vivlamore is the sports editor at The Atlanta Journal-Constitution. He has served as reporter and editor at the AJC since 2003.
