MILWAUKEE, WISCONSIN – OCTOBER 22: Khris Middleton #22 of the Washington Wizards dribbles the ball against Giannis Antetokounmpo #34 of the Milwaukee Bucks during the third quarter at Fiserv Forum on October 22, 2025 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Patrick McDermott/Getty Images)
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The Milwaukee Bucks entered this season with two primary offensive goals: play faster and shoot more threes. It’s safe to say they checked both boxes in their 133–120 season-opening win over the Washington Wizards.
Last year’s Bucks preferred a slower, more deliberate rhythm. With Damian Lillard running the show, they were comfortable easing into possessions, probing defenses, and methodically finding shots. The numbers reflected that patience — Milwaukee ranked 15th in overall pace and averaged about 14.5 seconds per possession. After made baskets, that number expanded to 18.1 seconds, 19th in the league.
They weren’t in a hurry to go anywhere. That patience often turned into predictability, giving opposing defenses plenty of time to set their feet and load up against Giannis Antetokounmpo and co.
Doc Rivers promised that would change.
With a younger, more athletic roster and a summer spent emphasizing pace, the Bucks vowed to push the tempo. One game in, the early returns are promising.
The NBA defines any shot within the first nine seconds of the shot clock as “early.” Against Washington, Milwaukee launched 21 of those early threes — nearly doubling their average from last season. Even better, they hit 10 of them, good for a scorching 47.6 percent.
Myles Turner and Gary Trent Jr. were the main catalysts. They combined for 12 of those early attempts, hitting six. Here’s how each Buck fared on those quick-trigger threes:
- Trent Jr.: 5–7
- Turner: 1–5
- Rollins: 1–3
- Prince: 1–2
- Green: 1–1
- Anthony: 1–1
- Prince: 0–1
- Giannis: 0–1
The key wasn’t reckless speed — it was intentional tempo.
Milwaukee selectively pushed off defensive rebounds and turnovers, looking up the floor early but pulling back when the break wasn’t there. In those moments, the Bucks flowed into more structured half-court actions, featuring noticeably better movement — ball movement, off-ball movement, and player movement.
One of the biggest adjustments without Lillard — and without another All-Star-level creator alongside Antetokounmpo — will be juicing the offense through three-point volume. Rivers and general manager Jon Horst spent the offseason preaching the same mantra: shoot more threes.
Last season, Milwaukee was the league’s most accurate team from behind the arc, hitting 39.3 percent according to Cleaning the Glass.
The problem wasn’t accuracy — it was volume. They were just 15th in three-point frequency, leaving points and spacing on the table.
That mindset shifted this offseason, and we saw a glimpse of it on Wednesday night. The Bucks attempted 44 threes against Washington — a number they eclipsed only 10 times last season. That total would’ve ranked just sixth in attempt rate a year ago, but it’s a clear step toward the kind of offensive identity Rivers wants to build.
It’s one game, and against a team still figuring itself out, but there was something different in how Milwaukee moved — both literally and figuratively. The ball found energy. Players filled lanes. Threes came in rhythm rather than desperation.
If this first showing is any indication, the Bucks may have found the early blueprint for what this new era could look like: Giannis at full throttle, shooters letting it fly, and a pace that puts defenses on their heels instead of their toes.
Playing faster isn’t just about running. It’s about playing freer. And for the first time in a long time, Milwaukee looked like a team doing both.
Source: https://www.forbes.com/sites/briansampson/2025/10/23/milwaukee-bucks-set-the-tempo-in-season-opening-victory/
