Well, this was not how the season was supposed to start for the Milwaukee Bucks. Through three games just about anything that could have gone wrong has gone wrong.

On opening night key bench player O.J. Mayo was listed as injured and has missed all three games so far. During the home opener John Henson, another key bench player, got banged up and has been out since. Meanwhile the Bucks are waiting for Jabari Parker to get medical clearance before he can start playing again.

But the bigger problems are the defense and a lack of consistent effort.

Opponents are shooting 47.0 percent from the field against the Bucks. The Bucks are also allowing an incredible 46.4 percent from three to their opponents, easily the worst in the NBA.

By some miracle the Bucks aren’t allowing the most points per game at 115.3 – the Pelicans are allowing 119.0 and the Lakers are allowing 115.7 – but they do have the worst defensive rebounding rate at 64.3% percent.

So, in brief summary, the Bucks have been allowing the highest percentage of offensive rebounds, allowed 115 points per game, and are allowing the highest three-point percentage in the league. Not what the Bucks were expected to be known for.

The problems have come from overcommitting on defense and simply not boxing out down low.

Too often in the first three games have the Bucks shown too hard on screens and not recovered quickly enough. If the player showing on the screen doesn’t recover in time it turns into an easy pass to the roller who either has a good look at the rim or an easy pass to someone behind the three-point line due to the defense having already collapsed on the roller.

Too often has the help defense overcommitted or been just plain lazy. The Bucks were phenomenal with their help defense and causing discomfort against offenses last season. Through the first three games help defenders have overcommitted going for steal attempts or completely lost track of their guy resulting in unguarded cutters or open threes.

And too often are the Bucks watching shots hit the rim on defense instead of boxing out and securing the rebound. With every shot made by the Bucks it has felt like the other team answers with a make of their own or gets an offensive rebound.

The offensive struggles were expected, and they have a lot of new players they are learning to play with. Playing from behind is not going to help the Bucks grow on offense.

Now watch Giannis Antetokounmpo dunk all over Nene Hilrario to cheer yourself up.

Hope that helped!