Milwaukee Bucks: Revisiting Pat Connaughton’s 2020-21 goals

Revisiting Pat Connaughton’s 2020-21 goals with the Milwaukee Bucks: No. 2 – Sharpen defensive discipline

While Connaughton will never reach All-Defensive status, his services on that side of the ball have been welcoming for the Bucks over his three years. He has been an overall solid defender, but the guard had his share of bone-headed plays over those first two seasons. That mostly included him jumping on practically every pump fake and fouling opposing shooters. Sharpening his focus and lessening these blips was something the team needed him to improve upon in 2021-22.

Although Connaughton racked up 99 personal fouls this season, the second-most in his career, it was mainly because he played a career-high 1,575 minutes during the regular season. Seeing a more prominent role than ever before, Connaughton’s numbers were bound to increase, but in the grand scheme of things, he looked like a smarter defender. While he tallied 23 blocks this year, his fewest since joining the team, it was largely due to him taking fewer risks and attacking shooters as he would have in the previous two years.

He may not have blocked as many shots, but he tallied a new career-high in steals with 49 over the 2020-21 regular season. He totaled 58 in his first two years with the Bucks combined, and while this once again ties into him having played a bigger role, he also deserves credit for making countless hustle plays to notch this feat. He was always active on the defensive end, and while he was not far from perfect, Connaughton surely looked more discipline than he previously had.