Goal No. 2: The Milwaukee Bucks must improve their efforts in the clutch
With just 28 appearances this season, the Bucks have the third-fewest clutch opportunities across the league.
Defined as the final five minutes of a game within five points, this team has not played many close games compared to their other competitors. When they so rarely find themselves in these close contests, the results have been hit or miss entirely as the Bucks have managed to piece together a 13-15 record. Their subpar record certainly poses some cause for concern as the team will likely find themselves in close games in the playoffs.
One player that will have many eyes on them in the postseason is Khris Middleton. According to NBA.com/stats, the forward has been Milwaukee’s go-to man in the clutch by leading the team in clutch field goal attempts with 44 this season. His production has been mixed in those clutch moments as he is shooting just 17-of-44 (38.6 percent) and a vile 7-of-23 (30.4 percent) from behind the arc. Although he has scored a team-high 61 points in that time, Middleton’s decrease in efficiency in the biggest moments is concerning.
Middleton is not solely at fault for Milwaukee’s troubles in the clutch this year, as this has been an all-around effort. If the Bucks will see any success in the playoffs, they will have to come together and win these close games with the proper execution. That includes head coach Mike Budenholzer, who has had his issues in the playoffs previously, to say the least.