BTBP Roundtable: Adjustments Made, More Needed?

Dec 7, 2015; Milwaukee, WI, USA; Milwaukee Bucks guard

(22) during the game against the Portland Trail Blazers at BMO Harris Bradley Center. Milwaukee won 90-88. Mandatory Credit: Jeff Hanisch-USA TODAY Sports

4. Do you feel it’s possible for Khris Middleton post-ups to become a reliable Bucks scoring option or should they abandon that play completely?

AM: It’s a shot that I’ve got confidence he can hit, but he just hasn’t managed to do so recently. It’s started to get predictable and stale because they’re going to it so often, so I would not be against Kidd moving away from it, even just in the interim.

TW: Abandoning anything entirely after just 23 games seems premature, but Middleton post-ups have been tough to watch at times. Middleton is too predictable with them–instead of going under or around his man towards the rim, he almost always tends to drop off for a fade-away shot. Those are tough to make if you’re not named Dirk. Middleton would be better off trying to vary his post game, especially when his defenders are often significantly smaller than he is.

JT:  I really have soured on it completely over the course of the last week or so and I just think it’s been a terrible use of Middleton. We’ve seen the play work before, but the fact that the team has a tough time trying to get the play going and teams have defended it so incredibly well, I’m at a loss for why we keep seeing it more and more as of late. Plus, that’s not even touching how Middleton’s mid-range game has been incredibly off throughout the year as he’s just shooting 30 percent on mid-range shots, according to NBA.com/stats.

JH: I like the Middleton post up but they need to do the play less often. I don’t think it is a natural play for Middleton. If Monroe is in the game I prefer the Bucks to try and feed him the ball in the post. Monroe can score on anyone and if his teammates are moving he is a deft and willing passer who can set anyone up for a good shot. I’d also like to see more Jabari post ups. Middleton, in my mind, has a 1000% more value roaming three point territory and hoisting good threes. The post up for Khris should be something he does to throw defenses off from time to time but I do not want to see it become a go to play in this offense.

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