The Milwaukee Bucks will need several key rotational players to step up as the season progresses with championship aspirations in mind.
Throughout the first 11 games of the season, the Milwaukee Bucks have managed to piece together a 7-4 record.
With such a variety of new talent on this revamped roster, head coach Mike Budenholzer has conducted his share of rotational experiments to try and see what he has all around. Budenholzer has shown his willingness to throw different players into the mix early on, and it has been hit or miss. However, that should come as no surprise as the chemistry continues to build on this roster 11 games into the season.
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While several players have impressed throughout that stretch, there is an equal amount of them that need to step up in their time on the floor.
With that out of the way, here are three players that the Milwaukee Bucks will need more production from as the season treads on.
Milwaukee Bucks that need to step up: Pat Connaughton
As evidenced by the three-year, $16 million contract he signed this offseason, the Bucks are clearly high on Pat Connaughton. The guard has been an integral part of the rotation since he came aboard two summers ago, and although the hefty amount the Bucks gave him seems like a head-scratcher, Connaughton is someone that can help this team without question.
The biggest knock on Connaughton has been his shooting from behind the arc, where he shot just 33.1 percent on 2.9 attempts per game throughout his first two seasons with the team. However, he has shot the light outs to start the season, shooting 50 percent on 3.1 attempts per contest. Whether he can sustain this red-hot shooting remains to be seen, but if he continues knocking down shots, he could be an X-factor off the bench.
Connaughton undoubtedly has a chip on his shoulder following last year’s postseason where he was virtually unplayable, and he has played well early on. The guard will get his 16 minutes per game, and the Bucks will need him to take advantage of the opportunity.