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Milwaukee Bucks: 3 trends that need to cease in Game 4 against Nets

By Dalton Sell

MILWAUKEE, WISCONSIN - JUNE 10: Jrue Holiday #21 of the Milwaukee Bucks is defended by Kyrie Irving #11 of the Brooklyn Nets during the first half of Game Three of the Eastern Conference second round playoff series at the Fiserv Forum on June 10, 2021 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Stacy Revere/Getty Images)
MILWAUKEE, WISCONSIN - JUNE 10: Jrue Holiday #21 of the Milwaukee Bucks is defended by Kyrie Irving #11 of the Brooklyn Nets during the first half of Game Three of the Eastern Conference second round playoff series at the Fiserv Forum on June 10, 2021 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Stacy Revere/Getty Images) /
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MILWAUKEE, WISCONSIN – JUNE 10: (Photo by Stacy Revere/Getty Images)
MILWAUKEE, WISCONSIN – JUNE 10: (Photo by Stacy Revere/Getty Images) /

The Milwaukee Bucks kept their postseason dreams alive after a hard-fought victory over the Brooklyn Nets Thursday night.

It was a turbulent contest packed with lead changes and ties as both teams went back-and-forth until the very last shot, but Milwaukee ultimately escaped with a low-scoring 86-83 victory. It was undoubtedly a brutal 48 minutes of basketball played from both sides, but the Bucks will take it as they now find themselves trailing just 2-1 in this best of seven series.

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Yet, optimism is not as free-flowing as it typically would be following a victory as these first three games have been a mess for the Bucks in the bigger picture.

They looked entirely flat in Game 1 from the moment things began, and they were blown off the floor in Game 2 by brutally suffering the second-largest playoff loss in franchise history with a 39 point defeat. Despite managing to win Game 3, it was done far from convincingly.

If Milwaukee will finally get back into a rhythm moving forward, here are three trends they must put an end to in Sunday’s Game 4.

Giannis Antetokounmpo needs to stop shooting threes for the Milwaukee Bucks

One of the most discussed phenomenons in the East Semifinals to this point has been the questionable shot selection from Giannis Antetokounmpo.

The two-time MVP has oddly picked up a newfound reliance on shooting the long ball, despite hitting just 3-of-16 from the perimeter in this series. While the confidence is surely something to admire from Giannis, this is certainly not the time for him to be taking that shot at such a high clip. It is exactly the shot that the Nets want him taking every single trip down the floor because they run into problems the closer he gets to the basket.

Yet, during a do-or-die Game 3 with Milwaukee’s season practically on the line, Antetokounmpo continued heaving triples time and time again. He finished the night just 1-of-8 from downtown, the latter being a playoff career-high for the 26-year-old. Given the importance of this game and just how tightly contested it was throughout, Bucks fans were undoubtedly not encouraged when Antetokounmpo pulled back and hoisted another triple when this team needed a basket. Luckily enough, the Bucks managed to win despite his treacherous shooting night.

This shooting issue would unquestionably have been more prevalent had Milwaukee lost and gone down 0-3, but fortunately, it did not result in that. Still, Antetokounmpo’s green light from 3-point range should be taken away almost entirely. Shooting just 18.8 percent from deep in the series and 12.5 percent for the playoffs, these shots are hurting the Bucks more than helping. Giannis should look to stick closer to his identity and be the enforcer inside, which proved impactful in Game 3 when he was chased off the line.

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