Milwaukee Bucks: Grades from appalling Game 2 loss to Phoenix Suns

A+. Believe it or not, Pat Connaughton was undeniably one of the best players on the floor for the Bucks last night. With most of the team looking deflated, Connaughton remained focused and played a great game, highlighted by his 14 points. The guard would do his damage offensively from primarily behind the arc, hitting four of his five made shots from long range. He accounted for just under half of Milwaukee’s total 3-point outcome on the night by himself, signaling his importance in this one on the offensive end. He was also skying for rebounds as he would bring down seven on the night, making a great impact on the glass. While the bigger storyline of the night revolved around players that did not step up, Connaughton will not find himself on that list as he penciled in a solid performance.. SG. Milwaukee Bucks. PAT CONNAUGHTON

D-. Playing 12 minutes in this matchup, Jeff Teague struggled to make much of an impact on the floor for the Bucks. The guard would score four points on four shot attempts, missing three and getting a pair of shots to drop at the free throw line. His facilitating was not there either as he did not log a single assist on the night. On the defensive end, it was practically a death sentence seeing Teague try and match up against Chris Paul, who had yet another fantastic performance. Teague’s minutes off the bench in this series- and the entire playoffs, really- have been met with an abundance of criticism, and that will stay the case after last night’s outing.. PG. Milwaukee Bucks. JEFF TEAGUE

SG. Milwaukee Bucks. BRYN FORBES. D. With the Bucks opting to give Teague a more prominent role, Bryn Forbes saw his playing time cut to just over five-and-a-half minutes total. During that limited burn, Forbes would score three points on three shot attempts, still showcasing that he is indeed locked in a shooting slump. Given Milwaukee’s desperate need to slow down Phoenix’s guard duo, Forbes saw his playing time nosedive because of his defensive limitations as he will be targeted defensively. Teague does not provide a much better alternative, but there is very little to take away from Forbes’ performance last night due to the minimal playing time he received.

D. Just like Forbes, Bobby Portis saw his minutes cut as the team decided to shake up the rotation. After being targeted persistently on defense in the first matchup, Portis played just over four-and-a-half minutes in Game 2, giving him hardly any time to find a groove. The big man would finish with two points, two rebounds, and a single steal during his limited run, not making much of an impact in the bigger picture overall. With the Bucks primarily running small-ball to try and limit the Suns’ lethal offensive approach, Portis became the odd man out and spent most of his night on the sidelines after a brief showing early on. Time will tell if Portis can work his way back into the rotation or if he will remain banished to the sidelines.. C. Milwaukee Bucks. BOBBY PORTIS