Milwaukee Bucks: Takeaways From Win Over Portland Trail Blazers
By Adam McGee
King Khris
The ultimate value of Khris Middleton is just how reliable he is. There are a number of factors that can be pointed to for Milwaukee’s recent improvements, and indeed how he has contributed to them, but none is more important than knowing Middleton will take care of business.
For as great as Giannis Antetokounmpo will be — and already is — he still does much of his best work in bursts. He’s the kind of player who can single-handedly win you a game thanks to taking over for just a few minutes.
By the same token, if a team was solely reliant on those kind of outbursts on a nightly basis, the moments when he goes off the boil would sink them. Luckily for Milwaukee, Tuesday was an illustration of how Middleton ensures that the Bucks are not a one-man team.
In spite of struggles from their All-Star in the first, and most notably, the fourth quarter, the Bucks stayed above water thanks to a team-high 26 from Middleton.
As Antetokounmpo fell in love with a variety of post hooks that weren’t even threatening to fall, it was notable that Middleton was able to come in, establish deep position, and make a hook of his own.
This is not about pitting one against another, it’s not about one-upmanship, instead it’s just an example of how it feels like Middleton is always there to bail the Bucks out. Even with a player of Giannis’ supreme talent, you need that. If the Bucks didn’t understand the importance of that kind of balanced team before, they do now.