Despite loss, Bucks show improvements in first game under Doc Rivers

One big change is that Milwaukee isn't trying to pick up ballhandlers well above the three-point arc. Teams like the Indiana Pacers have killed Milwaukee by beating defenders far from the basket, forcing the whole defense to scramble and collapse. Under interim coach Joe Prunty and now Rivers, Milwaukee started falling back to guard the paint, letting Giannis Antetokounmpo and Brook Lopez deter shots instead of chasing opposing players.

Against Denver, that approach led to six three-point attempts from Nikola Jokic, who made just one. Jokic is a fine shooter from deep, but he's much dangerous wreaking havoc down low.

The Joker did manage a triple-double of 25 points, 16 rebounds and 12 assists, so there's still some work to be done.

Rivers also made a big change to the Bucks rotations. Early in the season, Damian Lillard requested that he play the entirety of the first and second quarters, rather than staggering substitutions to keep one of Lillard and Giannis Antetokounmpo on the floor as much as possible. Griffin granted his request.

The new coach abandoned that idea in his first game. He pulled both players about six minutes into the first quarter, with the idea of having both stars in to close quarters. In the third, Rivers pulled Antetokounmpo early, then subbed him in for Lillard for the last two minutes. Lillard might prefer to play full quarters, but Rivers thinks the 33-year-old gets tired after a long stretch of play.

It remains to be seen if this aging Bucks team will keep up the defensive effort. But in simplifying the defense and making common-sense changes to the rotation, Milwaukee looks much more able to play championship-caliber defense. Or at least competent enough defense to ride their offensive stars.