Milwaukee Bucks: 3 players that need to step up in Jrue Holiday’s absence

3 Milwaukee Bucks that need to step up in Jrue Holiday’s absence — Khris Middleton

Throughout the first four games of the Bucks’ current win streak, Khris Middleton shot the ball on average just 9.8 times per game. While the Bucks were winning those games, they will now be missing approximately 16 points per game with Jrue Holiday out of the picture. That means Middleton will have to get more aggressive when scoring the basketball to fill the void.

As evidenced by his heroics in the win against Denver, Middleton is certainly capable of taking on that approach when called upon. In 36 minutes, the two-time All-Star scored 29 points on 16 shots while also dishing out 12 assists in the victory. Middleton was orchestrating the offense, showing aggression with his shooting, and doing a marvelous job in facilitating the Bucks’ offense.

With Milwaukee’s third-leading scorer sidelined, Middleton will indeed have to shoulder more of the scoring load. For a player that is having arguably the best season of his career offensively, he is certainly capable. The forward is averaging 20.8 points on a highly-efficient .521/.448/.938 slash line, all of which shows his prowess as one of the league’s best three-level scorers and well-rounded players.

Milwaukee’s playmaking will also take a hit with Holiday not in the lineup, but Middleton surprisingly is the one to lead the Bucks in assists per game this season with six. Now, he will have the ball in his hands more frequently than before, and his playmaking will be pivotal to keep the league’s best offense firing on all cylinders.

Middleton’s phenomenal season has been flying under the radar it seems as he continues getting better and better with time.