Milwaukee Bucks: The impact of Pat Connaughton
By Ben Rauman
Rebounding
Despite being listed at just 6’5″, Pat Connaughton has been a great rebounder for a Bucks team that has gone from ranking dead last in rebounding last year to becoming the second-best rebounding team in the league a month into the regular season.
His vertical and extra effort combine to allow him to grab 9.8 rebounds per 36 minutes, fourth on the team for players who have played at least 100 minutes, behind only Antetokounmpo, Henson and Ilyasova.
In only 17 minutes of action on a nightly basis, Connaughton also contributes 1.2 offensive rebounds per game which is tied for third on the team. In other words, Connaughton is generating a little over one extra possession for the Bucks every game, which could end up being the difference between a win and a loss.
Connaughton can often be seen under the hoop swatting balls back out to his teammates after a missed shot for an offensive board or poking the ball loose from an opposing player who thought he had secured the defensive rebound.
He also does not hesitate to track down his own misses. Andrew Wagner tweeted this in reference to a play from Milwaukee’s win in Toronto:
Pat Connaughton put up a 3 that had was off-the-mark. The second he realized that, he charged in for the rebound. Don't see much of that anymore.
— Andrew Wagner (@ByAndrewWagner) October 30, 2018
Getting rebounding production from wings like Connaughton is key if the Bucks hope to maintain their second-ranked rebounding numbers.
Much like the other areas of his game discussed, Connaughton brings an extra level of intensity when it comes to attacking the glass.