Milwaukee Bucks Game Preview: Oct. 21 vs Portland Trail Blazers

By Ti Windisch | Oct 21, 2017

PORTLAND, OR - MARCH 21: Damian Lillard #0 of the Portland Trail Blazers shoots a lay up against the Milwaukee Bucks on March 21, 2017 at the Moda Center in Portland, Oregon. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2017 NBAE (Photo by Cameron Browne/NBAE via Getty Images) /

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MILWAUKEE, WI – OCTOBER 13: (Photo by Dylan Buell/Getty Images) /

Major key for Milwaukee – Get Khris Middleton going

Khris Middleton has had a quiet start to his 2017-18 NBA campaign. Middleton put up 15 points in his first game action of the year, and although he added nine rebounds and six assists Middleton made just six of his 17 attempted shots.

Middleton started game two pretty slowly too, managing just four points in 18 first half minutes. The second half against Cleveland didn’t help matters much. Middleton finished with eight points on 3-for-10 shooting.

Slumps happen, and there’s no need to freak out about Middleton’s first two games with 80 remaining on Milwaukee’s schedule. Still, some of his struggles have as much to do with how he’s playing, not necessarily how well he’s playing.

Middleton is a habitual taker of unnecessarily tough shots, and he’s been throwing some risky passes as well. Getting a player as good as Khris Middleton shots is important, but contested threes and long twos aren’t shots anybody on the team should be taking.

Getting him more shots off the catch, and looks as the ball handler in pick-and-roll, should lead to Middleton getting his buckets in a more efficient and effective matter. With Jabari Parker sidelined for months, the Bucks need Middleton to support Giannis Antetokounmpo in a big way.

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