Why Grayson Allen and Pat Connaughton are thriving for Milwaukee Bucks

Throughout 20 games, Grayson Allen and Pat Connaughton are both having career years for the Milwaukee Bucks.

Starting in every game to this point, Allen is averaging 14.2 points while shooting 44.6 percent on his field-goal attempts and 42.2 percent on his 3-point attempts. Meanwhile, Connaughton’s time has been split between the starting five and the bench due to early injuries to the roster, but he is thriving wherever by averaging 12.1 points on 49.4 percent field goal shooting and 42.5 percent from behind the arc. This tandem has given the defending champs a significant boost offensively, but what has been the biggest factor in their early success?

The catch-and-shoot prowess of Grayson Allen and Pat Connaughton has helped propel this lethal one-two punch for the Milwaukee Bucks

Allen and Connaughton have both been shooting the lights out this year from 3-point range, which is obviously helping the Bucks mightily. This team has embraced 3-point shooting to the fullest in the Mike Budenholzer era, and these two are tailor-made for the system. Taking a closer look at it, these two are thriving particularly because of their lack of hesitation from the perimeter.

According to NBA.com/stats, Allen and Connaughton are currently tied for third in the NBA for catch-and-shoot 3-pointers this season with 50 apiece. The only two players ahead of them are Carmelo Anthony (53) and Stephen Curry (51). That is pretty good company to be in when it comes to perimeter shooting. These two have been as reliable as ever on catch-and-shoot tries this year, but how is each of them doing so?

For Allen, it has to do with the abundance of open looks he is getting nightly. The guard currently leads the NBA with 101 “wide open” 3-point tries this season, and he is shooting 43.6 percent on such attempts. To put into perspective just how many open looks Allen is getting, the next closest player on the list is LaMelo Ball, who is second in the league with 86 attempts. That is insane, and a massive factor behind it has to do with playing alongside Giannis Antetokounmpo. The MVP has thrown 116 passes in Allen’s direction this year, by far the most that the guard has gotten from any other Buck. When players collapse on Antetokounmpo, he knows he has a reliable shooter out on the perimeter waiting to let it fly, and the pair has got it down to a science by now.

Unsurprisingly, Connaughton is benefiting from the same formula as he has received 104 passes from Antetokounmpo this season, the most among any teammate. The veteran is certainly not getting as many wide-open looks as Allen, as he is way down the list at 55 attempts this year. He is shooting 21-of-55 (38.2 percent) on his wide-open looks. It seems like Connaughton is better when he is under some duress, as he has shot a scorching 27-of-56 on “open” triples this year, meaning the closest defender is somewhere between four and six feet. Connaughton has been outright incredible for the Bucks this year as he has developed into the perfect role player.

To make a long story short, Allen and Connaughton have been two of the better shooters in the entire league this season. Both are letting it fly with extreme confidence, and the results continue to speak for themselves. The blueprint for the Bucks has been to surround Antetokounmpo with great outside shooting, which is precisely what they have done with these two.