Milwaukee Bucks: 3 takeaways from 122-114 loss to the Boston Celtics
By Dalton Sell
Sam Merrill shows potential for Milwaukee Bucks in loss to Celtics
With the Bucks missing a variety of rotational players in these past two games, Budenholzer has given rookie Sam Merrill more meaningful minutes in the rotation.
Although he did not leave his mark in Wednesday’s win, the guard rebounded in a big way with the best performance of his young career Friday. In 20 minutes of action, the 24-year-old scored a career-high 15 points by shooting 6-of-8 from the floor, including 3-of-5 from deep. Despite the loss, Merrill’s performance gave fans something optimistic to take away from the game.
Merrill, the 60th pick in the 2020 NBA Draft, has not seen much run in Milwaukee’s primary rotation this season. Playing in 18 games for an average of just 6.5 minutes per contest, the guard has spent most of his time spectating from the sidelines, but this latest performance could potentially open more opportunities for him.
With Milwaukee’s bench struggling to remain consistent this season, a player like Merrill could certainly help spark some offense when necessary. The Bucks selected him because of his prolific shooting from 3-point territory, and as evidenced by his five attempts Friday night, he is not afraid to let it fly.
Sam Merrill’s first double-digit scoring outing of his career will undoubtedly leave a lasting impression with the fans and hopefully the coaches alike. As someone who can get the hot hand in a hurry, this game could help the rookie carve out a nice spot in the rotation moving forward.