Milwaukee Bucks: The impact of Pat Connaughton

Defense

While Connaughton has certainly been a positive presence on the offensive end of the floor, his defense has been simply outstanding up to this point.

Despite not necessarily being known for his defense while with the Portland Trail Blazers, Connaughton owns the best defensive rating on the team of Bucks players who have played at least 100 minutes at 98.7.

So how has Connaughton been able to impact the game to this degree defensively? The answer lies in his ability to use his unique athleticism to his advantage while staying within Budenholzer’s defensive scheme.

With a wingspan of nearly 6’9″ and impressive speed and vertical numbers, Connaughton is able to close on and contest shots far more effectively than many other players. With this athleticism at his advantage, Connaughton has consistently hustled on defense to contest opponents’ shots, particularly from behind the arc.

Currently, Connaughton leads the league in contested threes per 36 minutes with 7.4. Consequently, opponents shoot 2.5 percent worse from three when guarded by Connaughton. When he is on the court, opposing teams shoot just 35 percent from three, good for the second-lowest percentage on the team for players who have played at least 100 minutes of action.

Additionally, opponents shoot 4.3 percent worse from the field overall when guarded by Connaughton, and opposing teams shoot just 39.1 percent from the field overall when Connaughton is on the floor, good for the lowest on the team for players with at least 100 minutes.

Using his length and vertical to his advantage, Connaughton also ranks fifth on the Bucks in blocks per 36 minutes with 1.4, only behind the Bucks’ trio of rotation centers and Antetokounmpo. On a couple of occasions, he has even been able to block opponents’ jump shots from outside the painted area.

His ability to deflect shots at such a high rate as a combo wing is quite extraordinary. He has learned to utilize his athleticism in this respect much like how Eric Bledsoe has been able to alter shots throughout his career as an undersized guard.

Not only does Connaughton contest and alter shots effectively while on the floor, but he also does so without fouling. Per 36 minutes, Connaughton commits the second-fewest fouls on the team of players who have played at least 100 minutes of action. The only player who commits fewer is Malcolm Brogdon, who owns one of the worst defensive ratings on the team.

Mike Budenholzer made a point to limit fouling in training camp this year. In an interview with Matt Velazquez of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel during the preseason, it seems Connaughton took it to heart:

"“It’s been a big emphasis during training camp – show your hands and don’t foul when you’re playing defense. To be able to keep our hands active and make sure that we’re able to use our hands to deflect balls and do different stuff, too; not just not to foul, but to be active on defense. I think Coach has really tried to hammer that into our brains.”"

The combination of playing great defense while limiting opponents’ free throw attempts makes Connaughton an extremely impactful defender for the Bucks overall.

His effort on that side of the floor has helped Milwaukee go on runs against teams they have struggled to get stops against defensively.