Milwaukee Bucks: 3 key improvements following Game 1 loss to Atlanta Hawks

Khris Middleton must get back on track for Milwaukee Bucks after Game 1 loss

Simply put, the Bucks can’t afford to have Khris Middleton struggle as much extensively as he did in Game 1 of the Conference Finals.

Middleton finished with 15 points on 6-for-23 shooting and went 0-for-9 from 3-point range and it certainly mirrors the struggles and ineffectiveness Middleton showed at the start of the Bucks’ series with the Brooklyn Nets. Game 1 of that series saw Middleton score 13 points on 23 shots (0-for-5 from long range), a playoff low for the two-time All-Star.

No matter how you slice it, Middleton just couldn’t find his groove all night long, in spite of generating good looks and largely having favorable matchups working in his favor. 7 of Middleton’s 15 points came while Kevin Huerter was defending him and Middleton was 3-for-7 shooting (0-for-3 from deep) across 28.3 partial possessions.

Going into the series, it seemed as though that the Hawks were staring at a tough time when it came to guarding Middleton, especially after having lost De’Andre Hunter for the rest of the season after undergoing surgery on his meniscus. In Game 1, though, Middleton let the Hawks off the hook with how much he struggled.

There’s no question Middleton is a rhythm player and he will surely have to find that to jumpstart the Bucks and get the Game 2 victory they need before the series shifts back to Atlanta.