Donte DiVincenzo struggled for the Milwaukee Bucks in their loss to the Houston Rockets, a rare occurrence in the guard’s stellar sophomore season.
While most players tend to regress in their second season due to the “sophomore slump,” Donte DiVincenzo has flipped the script entirely. After an injury-riddled rookie season limited him to just 27 games last year, the former Final Four Most Outstanding Player award winner came out with something to prove for the Milwaukee Bucks in year two.
In 61 games with Milwaukee this season, including 24 starts, DiVincenzo averaged career-highs across the board, improving every aspect of his game. With a bigger role, the guard averaged 9.4 points, 4.9 rebounds, and 2.3 assists per game, blowing his rookie season stats out of the water. Although not a centerpiece, the 23-year-old asserted himself as a viable contributor to this roster that has no shortage of top-tier talent.
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Still, as great of a leap as Donte DiVincenzo made from year one to year two, the guard showed rare signs of weakness on Sunday night against the Houston Rockets. Making his second consecutive start at point guard with Eric Bledsoe out of the lineup, DiVincenzo looked more discombobulated than he ever has in a Milwaukee Bucks uniform.
Typically being a premier playmaker for the Bucks, DiVincenzo often looked clueless as he attempted to make numerous reckless passes, rarely working in favor of Milwaukee. On the night, Donte finished with just one assist to go with a disastrous five turnovers, dreadful numbers for a starting point guard. Although he tallied two steals, DiVincenzo still looked off defensively as well, one of the aspects that made him such a prominent factor in the team’s success to begin with.
Scoring wise, DiVincenzo did not look much better, as while he did score nine points, they did not come efficiently. Houston’s defense limited DiVincenzo to just 4-of-10 shooting on the night, including a vile 1-for-6 from 3-point territory. The guard also missed a pair of costly foul shots that would have put him into double figures to cap off his sluggish performance.
Overall, Donte DiVincenzo’s rough game Sunday night against the Houston Rockets looked lifeless at best. He struggled in nearly every aspect of his game, which was typically uncommon after his pleasant sophomore season to this point. However, that will make it far easier for him to bounce-back in the coming days.
DiVincenzo’s rough outing against the Houston Rockets will continue to sting, but given his stellar track record this season, it was only a matter of time before he had an off night. Hopefully, whether it be as a starter or reserve, Donte can put this devastating performance behind him as the Milwaukee Bucks look to fulfill their championship aspirations.
Aside from the Houston game, DiVincenzo has provided a critical spark for the Milwaukee Bucks all season long, whether in the starting lineup or off the bench. Only being in his sophomore season, DiVincenzo is going to have his share of growing pains, Sunday night’s loss being one of them. At 23-years-old, the young guard has a long career ahead of him, and playing as a valuable contributor on a championship team, will only continue to develop his game.
Keep an eye on Donte DiVincenzo as he and the Milwaukee Bucks face off against the Brooklyn Nets on Tuesday afternoon. With or without Eric Bledsoe in the lineup, this could be a perfect opportunity for him to put together a bounce-back performance.
For some, DiVincenzo seems like he could be the missing piece of the puzzle for Milwaukee, and no one should lose that thought after one lackluster outing.