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Defense

In terms of Budenholzer’s fit with the Bucks, one of the most frequently discussed topics has been what Milwaukee’s defense would look like under his guidance.

That isn’t all that surprising considering the immense defensive potential the Bucks possess, and just how significantly they have struggled on that end in recent years. What’s surprising, though, is that it has more often than not been presented as a concern.

The backbone of Budenholzer’s success in Atlanta was firmly built on defense, and across his time in Atlanta, he tweaked the scheme accordingly in the hope of maintaining their edge on that end.

At different times, Budenholzer’s teams have employed hyper aggressive tactics such as blitzing, more conservatively switched, and also tried to funnel everything toward shot-blocking at the rim.

The results have been defensive rating ranks of 14th in 2014, seventh in 2015, second in 2016, fourth in 2017, and 21st in 2018. The young and rebuilding 2018 team stands as a clear exception to the generally high standards, but the absence of Al Horford in 2014 shouldn’t be overlooked either. With full-strength experienced teams with a consistent message and strategy, Budenholzer’s defensive results have been sterling.

To track a timeline and the evolution of Budenholzer’s defensive schemes is to consider the different players who’ve filled pivotal roles in his rosters in recent years.

In 2014-15, the Hawks showed their first signs of introducing more aggressive tendencies into their play, but only in moderate doses. Essentially, with a first full season of Millsap and Horford together, Budenholzer and his staff recognized the opportunity provided by the versatile frontcourt duo.

Unlike most forwards in the NBA, Millsap and Horford are exceptionally comfortable in mismatches due to their strong positional awareness and above average mobility. This allowed the Hawks to frequently switch assignments between those two, while also introducing the option of dialing things up a notch and closing out more aggressively across the floor, safe in the knowledge that Millsap and Horford could recover better than most players of their size.

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That aggression began to ramp up further as Atlanta’s roster changed.

Swapping out the tenacious defense of Carroll, for the longer, younger and more exuberant Bazemore meant it was beneficial to push up higher on the pick-and-roll. Dennis Schröder’s tendency to pick up point guards full court and apply frequent pressure further played into this style in his minutes, as pressure and moving the ball out of the point guard’s hands become key points of emphasis for Atlanta.

The departure of Teague and Horford, and, most importantly, the arrival of Dwight Howard led to a major overhaul, though. With Howard not possessing the quickness previously boasted by Horford, the Bucks became much more conservative to play to his strengths. The blitz remained a tool in the Hawks’ toolbox, but it was one that was only implemented for specific matchups.

As Jeff Siegel of The Step Back explained in a look at that defense early in the 2016-17 season:

“The change from Horford to Howard puts considerably less burden on the Hawks’ weak side defenders, as they no longer have to rotate down to the rolling big man and then get out to their guy on the perimeter.”

That adjustment reshaped the look of Atlanta’s defense, but made the team no less successful on the defensive end. In fact, it effectively shored up the Hawks’ three-point defense — opponents shot just 34.1 percent from deep on 26.1 attempts per game that season — while also forcing opponents into the undesirable scenario of facing Howard at the rim.

In other words, in a reshaped team that certainly didn’t come about by design, Budenholzer showed an ability to adapt his defense to maximize the skills of his personnel.

While the most recent season and a young team with countless rookies or fringe NBA players isn’t ideal for giving a meaningful read on Budenholzer’s evolving defensive ideas, it is worth noting that his team has continued to transition to a more conservative style.

While the Bucks will be desperately hoping that Budenholzer can breathe life into a defense that has looked very close to being beyond repair in recent seasons, they should take great encouragement from his history. Whether aggressive or conservative, Budenholzer has experience in designing successful schemes with varied approaches.

For more on Budenholzer and what his appointment will mean for the Bucks, stick with us at Behind the Buck Pass.