Third storyline to watch for with the Milwaukee Bucks — Their high-powered offense
This season has seen a ton of change on the offensive side of the ball for the Bucks.
Not only has head coach Mike Budenholzer tinkered with what was previously their five-out system in favor of adding the dunker spot within their spacing, the talent infusion with Holiday and their supporting shotmakers has made a clear difference as they have the second-most efficient offense in the NBA at the break, per NBA.com/stats.
This boost in the offense can be attributed to spreading the ball handling responsibilities around to both Khris Middleton and Holiday. Giannis Antetokounmpo has also moved more off the ball and operated more this season in the post drawing attention and kicking to shooters along with being used as a roll man on pick and rolls with Middleton and Holiday and it’s paid huge dividends.
The additions of Bryn Forbes and Bobby Portis have been a massive help to a Bucks team whose shooting had been suspect especially in the postseason. For clarity’s sake, shooting has been up big-time league-wide with the lack of crowds and that may be helping increase shooting numbers. Regardless, the Bucks’ shooting may be the best it’s ever been, especially when factoring upticks by both Pat Connaughton and Brook Lopez as well.
Moving forward, the Bucks’ improved offense and their firepower should hold with an even better flow, especially as Holiday builds up his minutes back up after returning back into the fold. Antetokounmpo clearly found his dominant gear going into the All-Star break. And while being a snub for this year’s All-Star Game, Middleton’s well-rounded game and highly efficient scoring makes things hum for the Bucks offensively.
The Bucks are growing and are clearly comfortable in their new tendencies as the season has gone along. The big question is how will all of these developments hold up in the times the Bucks go against their East rivals like the Philadelphia 76ers and Brooklyn Nets. After all, the Bucks face those teams a combined five times over the second half of the season.
While we await the answers to that question, it’s clear the Bucks’ offense has far exceeded expectations to this point in the year and is ahead of where their defense is at the moment.