Milwaukee Bucks: 3 players that have stepped up while team fights injuries
By Lucas Valind
No. 3 – Giannis Antetokounmpo has stepped up for the Milwaukee Bucks while they fight injuries
It feels almost unfair to include Giannis Antetokounmpo as a player that has stepped up for the Bucks.
In the team’s first three games this season, Antetokounmpo posted a scoring average of only 22.6 points per game on 45 percent shooting. Obviously, there is more to basketball than only scoring, but the average and the shooting percentage isn’t what we are accustomed to seeing out of the two-time MVP. With so many regulars going down with injury, those numbers were bound to go up as the Finals MVP shouldered a larger workload.
In the four games following, Antetokounmpo has posted better averages in both categories with 30.8 points per game on 58 percent shooting. Those are numbers that are much more like the Antetokounmpo that we’ve become so used to seeing on a nightly basis. The improvement over the last four games is an excellent sign of Antetokounmpo’s growth as a leader over the last couple of seasons. With most of the starters currently out with injuries, the team needs the superstar to be at his absolute best, which he has been in recent games.
The most crucial improvement that Antetokounmpo has made to his game this season has been his free throw shooting. After his free throw routine became a widely discussed topic during last season’s playoffs, Antetokounmpo has shortened the routine and seen better results. He has improved his free throw percentage to 71 percent so far this season, up from 68.5 percent last season. He looks much more comfortable at the line this season, and hopefully, that can lead to continuous improvement and success in his shooting at the charity stripe.
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While it has not yet translated to achievement in terms of wins and losses, it is great to see some players be at their best when hit with some adversity. If they can keep it up when the team returns to their healthy form, the sky is the limit for Milwaukee this season.