Milwaukee Bucks Player of the Week (Nov. 29 – Dec. 5)
Nov 29, 2015; Charlotte, NC, USA; Milwaukee Bucks guard Khris Middleton (22) shoots the ball during the first half against the Charlotte Hornets at Time Warner Cable Arena. Mandatory Credit: Jeremy Brevard-USA TODAY Sports
Player of the Week Rankings
1. ???
2. Khris Middleton
3. Jabari Parker
Khris Middleton had a nice week. Like Jabari, he also hasn’t shown up in these rankings much this season but if the last few weeks are any indication that is definitely going to change.
Khris averaged 14.6 points (shooting 50 percent from three), 3.6 rebounds, 4.0 assists, 1.6 turnovers, and 0.6 steals in 32.8 minutes per game. In a week that saw Jerryd Bayless get injured and O.J. Mayo shoot 26 percent from three, Middleton was the only Buck who shot reasonably well from outside. He was the consistent floor spacer we have come to know him as.
In the first game of the week against Charlotte, Khris lead the team in scoring with 19 points and chipped in five rebounds, six assists, and three steals. It was a true stat sheet stuffing game. In the loss, the Bucks scored seven more points than Hornets when he was in the game. Khris was easily the best performing Buck in the game.
In the second game against Denver, Middleton had 10 points and five assists to help the Bucks to victory. He was also 3-5 on three pointers and the only Buck to shoot over 50 percent.
In the third game of the week against San Antonio, Khris again was the best among his teammates. He had 16 points to lead the team, three rebounds, and three assists. Since that was the best stat line on the team it is easy to see why Milwaukee couldn’t win this one.
In the fourth game against Detroit, Middleton once again lead his team in points with 21. He also put up five rebounds, three assists, and one turnover against his former team. Another great showing by Middleton in a loss, a common theme for the week.
In the final game against New York, Khris had seven points, four rebounds, three assists, and zero turnovers. Another smaller effort, but by not turning the ball over and doing some of the other little things Middleton made an impact, he had a strong +/- of +18.
Middleton’s defense this week was pretty strong. He didn’t have the big steal or block numbers but he did have the second best defensive rating, 92.7, on the team of players who played 20 minutes or more per game. Middleton is always consistent on the defensive side of the ball.
Khris had the opposite impact of Jabari this week. Where Jabari went gangbusters in the victories, Khris took a backseat in the victories and went off in the losses.
The Bucks turn to Middleton when things aren’t going well. He couldn’t deliver them more Ws this week but I don’t put a lot of the blame on him. He was the best performer in the losses and did what needed to be done in the wins. A good week for any player but a normal week for Khash.
Next: Moose On The Loose