Milwaukee Bucks: Getting back on track is critical for Khris Middleton
The Milwaukee Bucks have righted the ship in their first round series against the Orlando Magic and hopefully the same will be true of Khris Middleton.
It’s safe to say the sky is no longer falling for the Milwaukee Bucks down in Orlando.
After dropping Game 1 against the Orlando Magic, the Bucks have not only taken both Games 2 and 3, but have more importantly resembled the well-oiled, dominant machine that they were long ago before the season was suspended. It’s been a welcome and overdue sight to see, even as some things or players haven’t exactly clicked into gear under the playoff lights.
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Chief among them has been Bucks forward Khris Middleton, though things certainly looked up for the two-time All-Star during the Bucks’ 121-107 victory in Game 3.
It wasn’t just the sight of seeing Middleton find the bottom of the net for stretches at a time Saturday afternoon, it was the simple act of Middleton being able to create and provide his usual source of offense and marksmanship that wasn’t there at all in the first two games.
After all, Middleton had looked like a shell of himself to start the series, between his inefficient shooting and sloppy handling of the ball that led to many self-inflicted turnovers. Even with the Bucks turning things around in Game 2, Middleton was absolutely quiet with a pair of points and didn’t even look to lift himself out of his shooting funk in the face of the Magic’s pressurized defense.
The fact that Game 3 ended with Middleton scoring one more point (17) than he had in the first two games combined (16) only speaks to the lengths of his struggles and how he’s slowly starting to pull himself out of them. After the win, Middleton talked about starting to find his footing and staying true to his shot selection even in the face of ups and downs as the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel’s Matt Velazquez relayed:
"“Maybe I did try to be a little more aggressive than last game, but I thought I had great shots last game, I thought I had great shots tonight,” Middleton said. “They’re going to fall eventually. I thought a good bit of them did fall, but it’s just about playing the right way.”"
Like the Bucks’ young playoff run overall, Middleton is trending in the right direction following his less than auspicious start. But it’s clear there’s more work to be done in order for Middleton to resemble the All-Star forward that took an incredible leap with his smooth, methodical scoring that helped him nearly enter the 50-40-90 club this season.
The challenges only get tougher from here with the Miami Heat currently only one game away from sweeping the Indiana Pacers and waiting for the Bucks in the next round.
Where Middleton has struggled up against many of the Magic’s long wings like James Ennis III so far this series, the Heat are no different. On top of that, they have a plethora of athletic experienced options in the vein of Jimmy Butler, Jae Crowder and Andre Iguodala that will likely all see time covering Middleton over that looming series.
For those reasons, those potential assignments are worth noting and and contrasting with how building a sound defensive gameplan and structure is key in limiting Middleton’s superstar teammate, Giannis Antetokounmpo. And it’s all why using what is left of this series with the Magic is crucial in trying to get Middleton back on track ahead of such looming threats.
Given the Bucks’ offense has cried out for Middleton’s brand of shot making and overall presence on the ball when in the times they’ve been stuck in cold spells during their three playoff games, the 29-year-old’s struggles on offense have been made more noticeable as result.
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The Bucks have finally started to find the answers to the problems that had plagued them throughout their time in the bubble. If Middleton figures out a way to translate his regular season success as the Bucks get deeper into the playoffs, that will answer the biggest question facing the Bucks in the immediate and long-term future.