Milwaukee Bucks Grades: Starters
, B
9 Points | 3-8 FG | 0-0 FT | 3 REB | 2 AST | 3 STL | 0 BLK |
It’s interesting to note the role that Bayless has taken on as the season’s progressed. He’s gone from “Black Hole Bayless” to the Bucks token spot up shooter. Of his eight shots against the Nets seven were from three point range, making three. I’ll take it.
Khris Middleton
, A
19 Points| 7-15 FG | 2-2 FT | 5 REB | 7 AST | 5 STL | 0 BLK |
A few more steals here, a couple more rebounds there and Middleton would have been a serious threat for a quadruple-double. That’s pretty much where Middleton is with his game right now–steady as she goes. Giannis gets the highlights, Parker gets the praise, but make no mistake that Middleton is the glue.
Giannis Antetokounmpo, A+
28 Points | 12-16 FG | 4-11 FT | 11 REB | 14 AST | 4 STL | 2 BLK |
My goodness. The emergence of Giannis has taken a season many left for dead and turned it into must-see TV. What is he going to do next? Scale Mt. Everest with a euro-step? I wouldn’t put it past him. With his age, talent, and drive he’s given all of us Bucks fans a legitimate reason to hope. He isn’t quite beyond reproach–his poor FT shooting helped keep the Nets in the game, but the way he led the Bucks late erases the sour flavor of missed freebies.
Jabari Parker
, A
23 Points | 11-17 FG | 1-1 FT | 5 REB | 0 AST | 1 STL | 0 BLK
Lost in the shuffle of Giannis taking command of everyone’s attention was Parker’s low-key solid performance. It was hard to realize at the time, but midway through the third quarter after a Parker layup I took a look at the box score and boom–he had 19. How could that be right? He was so quiet. If Parker is reaching a level where he can score a quiet 23 we know he’s really getting somewhere. The 3-5 from fifteen feet or more helps too.
, B
14 Points| 6-13 FG | 2-2 FT | 5 REB | 3 AST | 0 STL | 0 BLK |
If Moose does have a future with the Milwaukee Bucks, Sunday’s performance was a glimpse of what that future may look like. He played a complementary role without dominating the action like he did earlier in the season. He struggled with Brook Lopez–especially when guarding his jumper.
Next: Milwaukee Bucks Grades: Bench