Milwaukee Bucks: Putting trust in Khris Middleton during crunch time
After their great shakeup this offseason, the Milwaukee Bucks have embraced any and all tests that come their way this 2020-21 season.
Of the consistent criticisms that have been levied at the Bucks during the Mike Budenholzer era, their dominance in the regular season didn’t lead to many tight games. For the 2019-20 season, the Bucks played a total of 74 clutch time minutes, per NBA.com/stats.
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In the few late game tests that come their way this season, the Bucks have battled and frequently turned to one of their cornerstones to lead their offense when everything has ground down to a chess match.
No, it’s not their two-time MVP, Giannis Antetokounmpo, or their star acquisition from the offseason, Jrue Holiday. Rather it’s two-time All-Star Khris Middleton.
At the one month mark in his ninth NBA season, Middleton has arguably never been better, especially scoring the ball from all three levels of the floor. Since writing that piece, Middleton has raised his scoring average to 22.1 points on .527/.439/.932 shooting, along with 6.3 rebounds and 5.6 assists over his 14 appearances on the season.
The Milwaukee Bucks have entrusted Khris Middleton to deliver in crunch time minutes.
Middleton’s brilliance has certainly extended down to late-game possessions, like when he made clutch back-to-back triples in the Bucks’ win over the Dallas Mavericks last week. That’s obviously been countered by the Bucks’ nailbiting loss to the Brooklyn Nets earlier this week that saw Middleton’s corner 3-point attempt rim out right before the final buzzer sounded.
That’s the way the ball bounces sometimes, but the Bucks’ continued trust in Middleton for late-game situations looks to be a constant this season.
In the 18 clutch time minutes the Bucks have played so far this season, Middleton has a 31.6 usage percentage and has scored 16 total points on 6-for-10 shooting from the field (2-for-5 from 3-point range). Second to Middleton’s clutch time usage is Antetokounmpo who is posting a 23.5 usage percentage himself.
It should come as no surprise for why the Bucks and Budenholzer have looked to the All-Star forward to lead them in such spots. Although it did strike me and many Bucks fans as strange to see Middleton not really factor into leading their offense as they got within striking distance late in their loss to the Los Angeles Lakers Friday night.
After all, the Bucks don’t have as reliable or an accomplished scorer capable of hitting shots from all over the floor such as Middleton. And as his scoring pedigree has strengthened, Middleton’s ability to make great reads and his pick-and-roll chemistry has given the Bucks a staple set to turn to time and time again for Budenholzer and his staff.
It’s in these moments where we see the next phase in the Bucks’ evolution and where they will have to master a crucial step in their ongoing mission to vie for an NBA title.
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For as otherworldly as Antetokounmpo’s talents are and for as glitzy and poised that Holiday has been since arriving in Milwaukee, it’s Middleton who holds the keys when games can be won or lost. And how he fares in these positions will go a long way in shaping what this Bucks team will achieve this season.