Bobby Portis is one of the more experienced players on the Bucks roster. And following the team's disappointing loss Thursday to the Pacers in the In-Season Tournament, he reportedly turned to that experience to call out coach Adrian Griffin and the rest of the team.
Bleacher Report's Chris Haynes reported that Portis "challenged" Griffin and the Bucks to play better, almost immediately harping on the team as soon as he got into the locker room.
Milwaukee remains in a strong position in the Eastern Conference overall. With a 15-7 record, the team trails only the Celtics. However, the team's chances of winning the In-Season Tournament were thwarted Thursday, when the Bucks were taken down by the Pacers, 128-119.
The Bucks led 94-91 heading into the fourth quarter, but were outscored 37-25 down the stretch. Portis played 17:47 and scored four points with six total rebounds, a block and an assist.
MORE: Tyrese Haliburton uses Damian Lillard's 'Dame Time' celebration as Pacers top Bucks
What did Portis say to Griffin? Here's what you need to know.
What did Bobby Portis say to Adrian Griffin?
What Portis said exactly to Griffin and the rest of the team is unknown, but the subject was clear.
Haynes reported Griffin called out the need to win the rebounding battle — Milwaukee was outrebounded 51-46 — and emphasized the need for Griffin to structure late-game offenses.
Griffin reportedly said he could have done better calling aggressive plays, and Portis said that it was not just on him, saying both the Bucks needed to give players a clearer direction and saying the players needed to do a better job executing.
This sentiment was echoed after the game in the press conferences. Griffin said after the game he needed to do better with the team down the stretch of the game, and both Damian Lillard and Giannis Antetokounmpo said the team needed to be more organized.
"We have to be more organized. We have to know what we are trying to get down the stretch. You know, at the end of the day, like down the stretch, it's about effort, man," Antetokounmpo said after the game. "We have to be better down the stretch. Like we've got to know what we're trying to accomplish down the stretch. I feel like sometimes we weren't on the same page, and it cost us."