HEADING into last month’s All-Star break, the Milwaukee Bucks were lost.
They had dropped seven of 10 games under recently hired coach Doc Rivers, who was already questioning his new team’s mental toughness.
“We had some guys here, we had some guys in Cabo,” Rivers said after a loss to the lowly Memphis Grizzlies on Feb. 15.
Nearly three weeks later, and the Bucks have strung together five straight wins heading into Monday’s meeting (Tuesday in Manila) with the visiting Los Angeles Clippers.
Keying Milwaukee’s surge has been star Giannis Antetokounmpo, who is averaging 31.4 points, 11.8 rebounds and 5.2 assists per game since the All-Star break.
Most recently, Antetokounmpo tallied 46 points, 16 boards and six assists in Friday’s 113-97 win against the Chicago Bulls while passing Sidney Moncrief as the all-time winningest player in franchise history with 489 victories.
“It’s fun. It’s something that I can tell my kids,” Antetokounmpo said. “I have been blessed with incredible teammates and an incredible coaching staff that allow me to do what I do.
… Right now, we’re trusting each other. We’re rolling, we’re feeling good.”
With 21 games left in the regular season for the Bucks, each outing will be imperative for their playoff seeding. Currently, they sit a half-game ahead of the Cleveland Cavaliers for the Eastern Conference’s No. 2 seed. — Field Level Media