In the aftermath of their Emirates NBA Cup championship, the Bucks spoke on some comparisons between them and last year’s tournament winner: the Los Angeles Lakers. Specifically, backup center Bobby Portis explained what makes his team distinctly different than the LeBron and Davis Lakers.
“We’re not Hollywood,” Potis said, per Sam Amick of The Athletic. “We have hard-working guys (who are) selfless and who give themselves up for the betterment of the team. It’s not about the points you score. It’s all about winning and being connected. Our group is different from their group. We’re just different in that regard of selfless guys who give themselves up. You can’t really compare the two teams — not at all.”
Of course, the Lakers became the first team ever to win the in-season tournament last year when they beat Tyrese Haliburton and the Indiana Pacers. While the Lakers insisted that Larry O’Brien was still their main priority, they celebrated the “championship” with champagne and a custom banner for the occasion.
But according to Portis, the Bucks are just built differently. They have a different kind of work ethic and a certain loyalty that holds even during the most strenuous times. They have a similar hunger to win and a drive to compete for the best of whatever’s in front of them.
“The NBA puts a big tournament in front of you, and you go win that mother f—–,” Portis said. “It’s as simple as that. They put something in front of you. You set a goal. You chop wood every day. Carry water. And eventually, you get here and you get a medal around your neck. … And then you get back to work on Thursday, which is what we signed up for. It’s part of the gig.”
As one of the most iconic and successful sports franchises in the world, the Lakers face a lot of pressure every year to live up to fan expectations but the Bucks are all about business. This season, despite a slow start, the Bucks have finally found a rotation that works and it’s got them in position to make a major push in the standings.
Darvin Ham can account for the differences himself. He was head coach of the Lakers during their in-season tournament run last year but after being fired and scapegoated by the team, he found his way back to Milwaukee where he’s been serving as a top assistant under Mike Budenholzer.
Ham still blames the Lakers for the toxic environment last season and says that the pressure (caused by unrealistic expectations) was simply too much to handle.
For Portis, it’s imperative that his team not take the same road that the Lakers squad did. Not long after their NBA Cup victory in 2023, their season fell apart and things were never the same again. If the Bucks want to be better, they’ll need to stay focused on the greater mission and work together in order to sustain this good play.
At 14-11, the Bucks still have a long way to go and that final game against the Thunder did not count toward the standings. Fortunately, the Bucks do get a short break before their next game, against the Cleveland Cavaliers, at Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse at 7:30 PM EST. The Bucks return home to face the Wizards on December 18th to complete their back-to-back.
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