How Pat Connaughton keeps coming up clutch for the Milwaukee Bucks

Pat Connaughton being a clutch basketball player for the Milwaukee Bucks is not breaking news by any stretch of the imagination. After all, this is the player that knocked down numerous clutch shots for the Bucks in the playoffs en route to their championship last season, including 15 triples in the NBA Finals alone. Connaughton proved during that run that he can show up when the lights are the brightest, and he has carried that over into this season with some stellar efforts early on.

Pat Connaughton continues to come up clutch for the Milwaukee Bucks as they navigate through a rocky start to the 2021-22 season

Connaughton displayed a new and improved 3-point shot last season as he shot 37.1 percent on 3.9 attempts per game, which proved to be crucial. Well, he has taken it up a notch this year as he is currently shooting 42 percent on a whopping 6.5 attempts from behind the arc. A big portion of this damage has come in the fourth quarter this season, as the guard ranks third in the league in fourth-quarter 3-point makes with 22, according to NBA.com/stats. Connaughton is shooting an efficient 45.8 percent from long range over the final 12 minutes of games, giving the Bucks a reliable threat on a nightly basis.

Although his 3-point shooting is what will always be Connaughton’s bread and butter, he has been productive all over the floor for the Bucks in the final period. Somewhat surprisingly, Connaughton is second on the team in fourth-quarter scoring with 89 points, trailing Giannis Antetokounmpo at 132. The veteran is also second in rebounds, fourth in assists, third in steals, and third in blocks. The biggest reason behind this can be attributed to availability, as Connaughton is the only Buck to have appeared in every game this season. Still, there is no denying that Connaughton has earned the right to see a more prominent role down the stretch in games.

Taking a closer look at the fourth quarter, Connaughton has been great in the “clutch,” which refers to the final five minutes of a game with a five-point or less scoring differential. Over his 29 “clutch” minutes this year, Connaughton is shooting 4-of-11 from deep. His 36.4 percent 3-point shooting mark in the clutch is the fifth-best mark in the association among players that have shot at least 10 attempts in that timeframe. Connaughton oftentimes finds himself out on the floor closing games for the Bucks because he has become so reliable with his shooting.

Yes, this was not the case the other night when Connaughton missed a clutch 3-point shot versus the Toronto Raptors in what eventually turned out to be a loss for the Bucks. It was a tough break, but aside from that, Connaughton has been incredibly clutch this season.

Who would have guessed just over a year ago that Connaughton would not only be on the floor late in games for the Bucks but also be one of Milwaukee’s most productive players? The guard’s turnaround from a player that most fans wanted gone to a beloved basketball hero in this city is nothing short of amazing. While his redemption arc was completed during the NBA Finals, it is welcoming to see Connaughton carry it over as he is having a career year by all standards.

Keep a close eye on the guard as the season progresses.