The Milwaukee Bucks are expecting a big season from Donte DiVincenzo, and here are three goals for the team’s starting shooting guard.
Having played in just 27 games his rookie campaign with the Milwaukee Bucks as he battled injury, Donte DiVincenzo was ready to bounce back during the 2019-20 season.
The guard did just that, having turned some heads in the process. In 66 games, 24 of them being stats, DiVincenzo averaged 9.2 points on .455/.336/.733 shooting splits, 4.8 rebounds, 2.3 assists, and 1.3 steals per game. Although he failed to regain any of his pre-hiatus momentum in the NBA’s restart, DiVincenzo is poised for another strong season with the Bucks.
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As DiVincenzo himself previously told the media, he does not lack any internal motivation heading into this coming season.
The chip on Donte’s shoulder stems from Milwaukee’s failed sign-and-trade for Bogdan Bogdanovic this offseason, as the guard was reportedly heading to the Sacramento Kings before the deal eventually fell through.
Instead of heading out West, DiVincenzo has been appointed as Milwaukee’s starting shooting guard this coming season. The promotion will entitle a more prominent role for DiVincenzo, and here are three goals for him in the 2020-21 season.
Goal No. 3 – Build off a strong defensive campaign
The Bucks ranked as the best defensive team in the league last season, and there were a handful of factors that played into that. Giannis Antetokounmpo took home the 2019-20 Defensive Player of the Year award, while Eric Bledsoe and Brook Lopez also earned All-Defensive honors.
Although DiVincenzo did not earn any such recognition, he had a strong season defensively in his own right. The guard led the team with 1.3 steals per game and often showed that he can be a pesky presence on that end of the court. Standing at 6’4″ with a 42-inch vertical and a freakish amount of athleticism mixed in that goes well with an immeasurable amount of energy, DiVincenzo possesses all the necessary facets to be a lockdown defender.
Now in the starting lineup, DiVincenzo will have his work cut out for him with opposing matchups, but he is certainly built for the task. If the 23-year-old continues his rapid development into a defensive ace with a strong outing in year three, he could potentially join his teammates with All-Defensive honors of his own down the line.
Goal No. 2 – Increase 3-point percentage
In his first two seasons with the Bucks, 3-point shooting has been a prominent shortcoming for Donte DiVincenzo. However, the guard showed an improvement, increasing his 3-point percentage from 26.5 percent to 33.6 percent between his rookie and sophomore seasons.
Looking at his most recent campaign, DiVincenzo did show promise in catch-and-shoot scenarios from long- range. Per NBA.com/stats, DiVincenzo hit 35.2 percent of his 179 catch-and-shoot triples as a sophomore. The problem for DiVincenzo was misfiring from three odd the dribble as he hit 29.2 percent of his 65 pull-up threes.
For a Milwaukee team that is so heavily dependent on their shooting from behind the arc, DiVincenzo’s struggles from distance were apparent throughout the season. If the guard could take a leap similarly to how he did between his first two seasons, it would be a substantial boost for the Bucks, especially with him now slotted in the starting shooting guard spot.
That ability to hit shots from distance will be critical for DiVincenzo when paired alongside Giannis Antetokounmpo, and bumping last season’s percentage up a few ticks is crucial. To achieve that goal, DiVincenzo will have to find some consistency, which is something that has been a struggle for him to this point.
Goal No. 1 – Work on offensive consistency
The biggest knock on DiVincenzo remains his inability to remain consistent on the offensive end.
DiVincenzo periodically showed an undeniably impressive amount of potential with several double-digit scoring outings throughout the 2019-20 season, but just as many low-scoring nights to go along with it. Due to the inconsistently present promise that he showcased on the offensive end, many pegged DiVincenzo as Milwaukee’s X-factor in their quest for a title.
However, the guard failed to find any rhythm in the NBA’s restart and struggled to get anything going with the ball in his hands up until Milwaukee’s second round defeat against the Miami Heat. That series, in particular, serves as a perfect example of the 23-year-old’s offensive inconsistencies. DiVincenzo reeled off performances throughout the five games where he scored one, zero, 10, 10, and 17 points in a series where he undoubtedly could have been a difference-maker.
Now, with that flameout behind him, the Bucks will need DiVincenzo to step up on the offensive end as the team’s starting shooting guard. The potential is surely there, but time will tell if the guard can elevate his game with this new opportunity ahead of him.
If he embraces the challenge, Donte DiVincenzo could indeed be the Milwaukee Bucks’ X-factor going into the 2020-21 season.