Milwaukee Bucks: 3 takeaways from 118-101 win over Indiana Pacers
By Adam McGee
Star duo up to the task
As a team, the Bucks appear to be much deeper this season than they have been for quite some time. Still, nothing will be more important to Milwaukee’s chances of success over the course of the season than the performances of their two best players.
On Friday night, there could be little doubt that both Giannis Antetokounmpo and Khris Middleton delivered. Combining for 49 points, 19 rebounds, nine assists, and three steals, on 19-of-38 shooting from the field, Middleton and Antetokounmpo were at the center of a lot of what was positive about their team’s performance.
Antetokounmpo posted impressive individual numbers in the season opener against Charlotte, but had a tougher time than those stats suggest as he received little help from officials to the Hornets’ brutal brand of physicality around the rim.
Against the Pacers, there was no such issue. Indiana had no answer for how to stop or slow down the Bucks’ Greek superstar once he approached the paint. Even one of Antetokounmpo’s more notable areas of struggle on the night can be shown as a positive, as in order to go 0-of-7 from three-point range, Giannis had to have the conviction to attempt seven triples in the first place.
By the same token, turnovers were something of an issue again for Antetokounmpo as he had six giveaways, but as they came on offensive fouls and travels for the most part, the aggression he’s intent on playing with was clear and to be commended.
Even with Antetokounmpo’s forceful display, there was plenty of room for Khris Middleton to shine. Much like the Bucks on the whole, it took Middleton a little while to heat up and start knocking down shots, but he certainly got there in the end.
Behind a dazzling second half flurry of long-range shooting, Middleton knocked down five triples on nine attempts. For Bucks fans who have long craved a more three-point heavy shot diet from Middleton, those nine attempts came somewhat effortlessly, and represented a mark he only topped on two occasions last season.
Against a team they’ll likely be battling with for homecourt advantage and a Central Division title this season, on Friday the Bucks’ 1-2 punch of Antetokounmpo and Middleton proved to have way too much for the Pacers to handle.