3 keys for the Milwaukee Bucks MLK Day matchup vs the Atlanta Hawks

The Milwaukee Bucks need more out of their role players against the Atlanta Hawks

Part of the benefit to playing a team that is not very good defensively is that it will also create more opportunities for the Bucks’ role players who have been relatively hit or miss lately.

Although Grayson Allen has seemed to find his rhythm offensively, it comes at a time when they aren’t getting much from players such as Pat Connaughton, George Hill, and Donte DiVincenzo.

Sure, a championship team shouldn’t have to rely on their role players to score, but it’d be nice!

Antetokounmpo, Middleton, Allen, and Bobby Portis combined for 88 of their 118 points against the Golden State Warriors. That’s awesome! But sometimes four players combining for 75 percent of the offense isn’t enough.

Those same four players combined for 78 percent of their offense against the Raptors, but it wasn’t enough. Yes, Middleton had a bad game, but there are times when you need role players to pick up your stars.

That hasn’t happened much as of late. Connaughton has hit a bump in the road, DiVincenzo has struggled in his return to the lineup, and Hill can’t seem to buy a 3-pointer this season.

The stress on the role players has naturally heightened with Holiday missing the last handful of games (including tonight). You’re not looking for a 20-point night on 70 percent true shooting from these guys, but also to convert when you get your opportunities.

Tonight will be a good chance to get some easy looks against a struggling defense, so perhaps this will be the game where the role players step up a little bit.

Milwaukee will look to get back on the winning track tonight after a bit of a rough patch and they’ll get the opportunity to take advantage of a shorthanded Hawks team.