Milwaukee Bucks: Takeaways from 128-123 win over Boston Celtics
By Adam McGee
Korver looking spry
Often in these columns the focus falls on the exploits of Giannis Antetokounmpo and Khris Middleton — both of whom were great on Thursday — but this time around it seemed worthwhile to look a little bit further down the line.
The Bucks got strong performances from four of their bench role players in this game, but the play of Kyle Korver was particularly striking.
Having Korver look fresh and in a rhythm this far into the season is a real positive for the Bucks, and could yet prove incredibly important if it sustains through to the postseason.
Korver has yet to master the layup, as a miss in the attempt from the photo above illustrates. I remain confident that if he really committed to it, Korver could still just about find a way to dunk. This is something he used to do a handful of times per season in Atlanta as an already not so young man, and if he’s going to miss layups, he might as well try to do it again.
On Thursday, Korver’s movement looked exceptional. That fuels his shooting efficiency, as he went 2-of-3 from deep, but it also keeps him in play on the defensive end. Korver broke off to stage surging one-man blitzes of Kemba Walker on multiple occasions last, was diving on the floor to secure possessions and keep the ball in bounds, and just generally sparking energy and activity in his teammates.
Given the momentum shifts in the game, Korver finishing with a +18 in 18 minutes was truly impressive, and feels genuinely representative of his impact on the night.