Milwaukee Bucks: Playoff Path Should Reap Long-Term Rewards

Given their recent surge up the Eastern Conference Standings, would making the playoffs actually benefit the Milwaukee Bucks?

The Milwaukee Bucks are red hot!

After going through a massive slump which was capped off with the loss of Jabari Parker, the Bucks have come roaring back into the Eastern Conference Playoff picture.

Having impressively navigated a tough Western Conference road trip, the Bucks now rank in sixth place in the East, with fifth place firmly in their sights.

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The Bucks recent resurgence, however, could leave some Bucks fans with mixed feelings.

In a draft that some are claiming to be the best this decade, the prospect of the Bucks landing another high pick, could really have helped to position them for contention in the Eastern Conference long-term.

Making the playoffs, however, is better for the future of this franchise.

The Bucks recent run hasn’t come on the backs of temporary players. They’ve been winning games because of the play of their core players.

Few could have expected Khris MIddleton to return to form so quickly. Despite being back for only 17 games, Middleton has had an immediate impact on both ends of the floor.

Middleton has helped provide the Bucks with an efficient second scorer in the absence of Jabari Parker.

Though he’s not scoring at the rate that Parker was, Middleton has been more efficient. His true shooting percentage currently sits at an incredible 62 percent compared to Parker’s 56.3 percent. Overall, Middleton is shooting 49.3 percent from the field and 48.3 percent from three. Though it’s a small sample size, that percentage from deep would be the best in the league, ahead of the likes of Stephen Curry and Kyle Korver.

Middleton’s efficiency comes from a number of things. First, he’s been solid at getting to the basket. Despite playing less minutes than he has in previous seasons, Middleton is getting to the line with regularity. He’s also shot 62.2 percent within five feet of the basket.

Middleton, however, is not a one-trick pony. He’s also been knocking down difficult contested shots. When he’s on, Middleton has been the Bucks most reliable creator when things break down late in the shot clock. Though it’s a small sample size, Middleton has shot 52.6 percent on fade-away shots so far, and nearly half of his made shots have been unassisted.

Middleton is also respectable as a secondary distributor. Though much of the offense runs through Antetokounmpo or the point guards, Middleton has been excellent at creating chances for others. On a team that lacks a great creator beyond Antetokounmpo, Middleton’s distribution has been a vital part of the Bucks offensive success.

Middleton has also improved the Bucks’ defense.

He’s arguably the best one-on-one defender on the team, and can guard multiple positions when called upon. This allows the Bucks to run their aggressive rotations on defense without losing as much as they did when Parker was starting. His speed, quickness, communication, and overall understanding of the scheme provides Milwaukee with a calming presence on the defensive-end.

Though Middleton deserves much of the plaudits for their recent success, Antetokounmpo also deserves recognition.

Like he’s done all season, Antetokounmpo has provided the Bucks with efficient scoring, solid passing, and an ability to create chaos on defense. He’s been one of the league’s ten best players this year and looks more than capable of improving further in the not so distant future.

If this recent run had come on the backs of bit-part veteran players like Milwaukee’s 2014-15 run, there’d be cause for different feelings among Buck fans. However, because their success has come so heavily from their two key building-blocks, making the playoffs should be much easier to accept as a positive outcome.

Making the playoffs would be a great learning experience for this team. Though Antetokounmpo and Middleton played roles in the Bucks’ last playoff series, they were not the focal point of the team as they are now.

Getting experience now, while both are at their best, will be critical to getting this team positioned to seriously contend sooner rather than later. The only way to learn how to beat teams in the playoffs is to play playoff basketball.

The Bucks are also more than capable of giving the Eastern Conference’s best teams a run for their money. If Antetokounmpo and Middleton play to the level they have recently, it’s not hard to envision the Bucks taking Boston, Toronto, Washington, or even Cleveland to six or seven games. This makes this year different from previous playoff years. The Bucks, if they can get there, are actually capable of putting together a competitive series against anyone.

Another potential benefit of being in the playoffs is, if they can give a high seed a serious scare in the playoffs, it could seriously help the Bucks’ chances of landing their desired free agent targets this July. Who wouldn’t entertain the idea of playing with Antetokounmpo and Middleton, especially if they prove they can seriously contend with the best already?

Next: Milwaukee Bucks: Best and Worst (March 10-22)

Whether the Bucks can close this season out and make the playoffs remains to be seen. However, making the playoffs would undoubtedly be beneficial for the long-term success of this team.

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