The Milwaukee Bucks are no strangers to the Indiana Pacers. These two squads have gone toe-to-toe 15 times since the start of the 2023-24 NBA season—long enough for this matchup to feel more like a recurring nightmare than a regular rivalry.
The Pacers have had Milwaukee’s number during that stretch. They took eight of 11 matchups last year, knocked the Bucks out of the In-Season Tournament, and sent them packing in a 4-2 first-round playoff loss. Talk about rubbing salt in the wound.
This season, Milwaukee has clawed back some pride, winning three of the four regular-season meetings. But if they want to ice the cake and return the favor by bouncing Indiana early, they’ll have to solve the Pacers’ full-court puzzle.
Rick Carlisle dialed up a 94-foot pressure scheme that gave the Bucks fits last postseason. With Giannis Antetokounmpo sidelined, Indiana unleashed a relentless press after every made basket. And with a 119.0 offensive rating—a mark that would’ve ranked third in the regular season—they had plenty of chances to crank up the heat.
Without their MVP in uniform and without a true backup floor general, the Bucks were stuck between a rock and a full-court press. Patrick Beverley filled in, but his game is more bulldog than quarterback—better suited to barking on defense than orchestrating the offense.
That left Damian Lillard to play the role of one-man band, lugging the ball up the court under constant pressure. He handled it with grace, but also battled injuries that forced him to miss two games. He was also a shadow of his healthy self in a couple of other games, looking more like a decoy than Dame.
Although Lillard’s status is in question once again (it’s safe to assume he’s out until we get official word), the Bucks are better equipped to handle Indiana’s chaos.
First, the Giannis factor. He’s a walking press-break. Pascal Siakam might do an admirable job defending him in the halfcourt, but picking him up full-court is like trying to trying to stop a tidal wave with a sandcastle. If Milwaukee can get him the ball on the inbound, they’ve already broken the press.
Still, Antetokounmpo can’t shoulder every possession—his plate is already full, and there’s no room for side dishes. He’ll need help, especially during his rest minutes.
That’s where point guards Ryan Rollins and Kevin Porter Jr. can step up.
Rollins doesn’t blow you away with a burst off the bounce, but he’s steady and composed. He can dribble through pressure and keep the offense afloat long enough to hand things off to Antetokounmpo. Think of him as the guy who gets the plane off the runway before the pilot takes over.
Porter, on the other hand, is a live wire. He has the quickness and flair to shake defenders and would pose serious problems for Indiana if they try to crowd him in the backcourt.
The flip side is he and Rollins both have butterfingers when it comes to turnovers. They’ll need to tighten their handles to avoid costly turnovers.
The numbers don’t lie: the Bucks averaged 15.5 turnovers per game against the Pacers this season—the fifth-highest mark they had against any team. If they keep coughing up the ball, Indiana will feast on transition points like it’s a buffet line.
Of course, the ideal solution is a healthy Lillard. With him in the lineup, Milwaukee’s ball-handling corps becomes a three-headed monster, and Indiana’s full-court pressure becomes far less sustainable.
But even if Dame stays sidelined, the Bucks have enough tools in the toolbox to handle Indiana’s pressure—if they stay composed. The Pacers want to drag Milwaukee into a track meet, force the tempo, and exploit their aging legs.
For Milwaukee to flip the script, they’ll need to slow the game down, control the tempo, and protect the rock like it’s crown jewels. Break the press, play at their pace, and the Bucks just might turn the tables on their playoff nemesis.