Milwaukee Bucks: One big question for each member of the Big 3

A lot of the preseason focus has been on the Milwaukee Bucks’ new players, how they’re fitting in, how the rookies have looked, and the potential emergence of Jordan Nwora. For good reason too, as those are things that will be key for the Bucks if they are going to repeat as champions.

However, with all the focus on the new guys, it feels like the big three have gone relatively under the radar in regards to what we can expect from them this season. I mean, we can only talk about how dominant Giannis Antetokounmpo is for so long, but there are still things to look out for.

The Bucks collectively got over the hump in last year’s playoffs and it should be a weight off their shoulders. Especially for players like Antetokounmpo and Khris Middleton, who had been the subject of much playoff scrutiny in years past, this upcoming season will be a year where there are finally no demons to exercise and they can focus on being the best versions of themselves.

Now, what does that mean for each of the big three? Each player is by no means perfect and the championship run left us with a few lingering questions for what to expect from them this season, so here is one big question remaining for each member of the Bucks’ big three.

One big question for each member of the Milwaukee Bucks big three: Can Jrue Holiday get his finishing back?

It’s safe to say that the hardest thing to watch during the Bucks’ championship run was seeing Jrue Holiday consistently be able to get to the rim or get open looks but flat out miss them. It was a source of much frustration for fans when the team was down 0-2 in multiple series and needed Holiday to get going offensively.

He certainly made up for his (at times) lack of scoring by playing smothering defense and being one of the Bucks’ few reliable and consistent playmakers, but there were some low moments. Holiday shot 12-for-53 in Games 1, 4, and 6 of the Finals combined, which is a 22.6 percent field goal percentage.

Holiday has historically been a very good finisher at the rim due to his physical style of play and strength, being able to bully opposing guards on post-ups and get easy looks. That approach worked in the playoffs, but he had a hard time finishing once he got there. In the regular season last year, Holiday shot 66 percent at the rim but only 54 percent in the playoffs per Cleaning the Glass. His regular-season number was in the 87th percentile among point guards but his playoff percentage dropped to the 40th percentile.

This is not even factoring in his 3-point shooting, which he had a career-high in terms of percentage during the regular season but saw that number fall well under his career average in the playoffs.

Some of this can be attributed to fatigue from guarding full court in the playoffs, but regardless, if the Bucks want to improve their halfcourt offense that nearly sent them out of the playoffs in the second round, Holiday finding his scoring groove will be huge.