Milwaukee Bucks: 4 lessons learned in face of disappointing playoff exit

4 lessons learned in face of Milwaukee Bucks’ humiliating playoff exit – The MVP’s burden

As all eyes focus on Antetokounmpo and his long-term future in Milwaukee, the reigning MVP himself isn’t above blame for the Bucks’ past two playoff collapses.

After playing his most impactful and efficient playoff series in the first round against the Orlando Magic, Antetokounmpo literally ran into a wall, as he often does, as the Bucks fell to the Heat. Of course, that was before his series came to an untimely end after he suffered one too many ankle sprains that forced him out of Game 5 entirely.

Antetokounmpo’s struggles in creating offense and getting to the rim in one-on-one situations against the Heat sapped his normally extraordinary value to the Bucks. To that point, the Bucks were a -2 in the 126 minutes without Antetokounmpo and were a -32 in the 119 minutes he was on the court, per NBA.com/stats.

More worrisome was Antetokounmpo struggling in the very areas that he’s been unable to master at this point in his decorated career. Going 53.7 percent from the free throw line and 21.4 percent from the 3-point line will simply not cut it. And as far Antetokounmpo’s 3-point shooting is considered, his propensity for launching early triples in the shot clock only makes his Achilles’ heel that much more damaging.

There are certainly useful ways that will be helpful in freeing up Antetokounmpo’s offense and leveraging his overall gravity better in a playoff setting, such as using him more as a screener for his teammates.

But as much as better tactics or having a more structured offense would go a long way in concealing his weaknesses, Antetokounmpo being the non-shooter that he is from anywhere outside of the basket is fodder for opposing teams to gameplan against. The same goes for his penchant to get into foul trouble or racking up 133 offensive fouls over the last two regular season combined, per Basketball-Reference.com.

Antetokounmpo is defined by his superhuman abilities and skills, but the blueprint to contain him from running wild is far from a secret at this stage in the playoffs. Until something gives, Antetokounmpo will continue to be walled up and fall under the high standard he and the rest of the league places him at after two straight MVP-winning campaigns.