Milwaukee Bucks: Grading Bobby Portis’ season at the All-Star break
By Lucas Valind
Bobby Portis had an incredible first season with the Milwaukee Bucks last season. Portis quickly became a fan favorite and even reached a point of fans chanting his name during the NBA Playoffs last season. When Portis decided to return to Milwaukee during the offseason, fans were elated and excited to get to see another season with one of their favorite players.
Evaluating the season of Bobby Portis with the Milwaukee Bucks at the All-Star break
Bobby Portis is having a career year with the Milwaukee Bucks this season. Portis is averaging a career-high in points and rebounds. In his 51 games played this season, Portis currently holds averages of 15.3 points and 9.1 rebounds with a shooting line of .482/.402/.755.
While Portis is having the best season of his career in per game categories, his shooting percentages are down from his first season in Milwaukee. Not to say that shooting 48 percent from the field and 40 percent from three isn’t tremendous, but those numbers are down from the 52 percent field goal percentage and 47 percent from three that Portis shot last season.
Arguably the biggest factor that would play into his drop in shooting percentages is his larger role on the team so far this season. It’s not really something to look too far into, considering his percentages are still lethal, but an increase in usage and the fact that last season’s 47 percent is probably not sustainable are most likely the two biggest factors that have played into the drop in his shooting splits.
The increase in usage for Portis this season has come due to him filling in for an injured Brook Lopez. The Bucks have been without Lopez in every game since the season opener. Portis has seen a majority of the starts at center when he has been available.
To help better understand why Portis being the guy to fill in for Lopez has been so important, here is a comparison of the two with their offensive stats. Lopez last season had averages of 12.3 points and five rebounds with shooting splits of .503/.338/.845 in 27.2 minutes per game. Portis this season has actually been more productive than Lopez was offensively last season. As previously mentioned, Portis holds averages of 15.3 points and 9.1 rebounds with splits of .482/.402/.755 in 28.8 minutes per game. Better production offensively is not to say that Portis means more to the Bucks than Lopez, but is a basis to see just how great Portis has been while stepping up this season.
Portis has been exactly what the team has needed while Lopez recovers from back surgery earlier this season. In a season where he has received the most starts of his NBA career with 46 starts, Portis has shown that he has earned it. Portis has had a tremendous season and while the chatter wasn’t very loud, some even thought that he was worthy of a spot in the All-Star Game. Even if not an All-Star, Portis was campaigning to participate in the three-point contest on Saturday night. Maybe the NBA will let Bobby shoot next year.
BTBP All-Star Break Grade: A-
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Portis falls off of the solid A because of his defense not being as good as some other centers. He also fell into a slump prior to the All-Star break, only making 3 out of 21 three-point attempts in the four games leading up to the break. Overall though, Portis has been tremendous for the Bucks this season as they continue their march towards a second consecutive NBA championship.