3 keys for the Milwaukee Bucks to bounce back against Charlotte Hornets

Is this a potential get-right game for Grayson Allen?

This is more than a Grayson Allen thing, more of a “the Bucks shooters should have a big night” thing, but Allen is their main off-ball shooter and he’s been a bit hit or miss lately, so I’ll focus on him.

There are games where he’ll get a lot of attempts. He averaged over nine total field goal attempts and nearly six 3s over 14 games in January and into early February. But then he’ll have games like his last two where he has four shots in each of the two games and not be as much of a factor in the offense. Overall he’s been very good though.

That’s largely due to who’s playing for the Bucks and what type of team they’re playing. Allen hasn’t done as well when the Bucks’ three best players are available (or if Bobby Portis is on a heater), but a game against the Hornets should be where he has more success (and the Bucks’ shooters as a whole).

According to Cleaning the Glass (subscription required), nearly 40 percent of the shots that the Hornets allow are 3s. That’s nearly three percent above league average. They allow the fifth-most corner 3s and that’s where guys like Allen and Portis should thrive.

Surprisingly, Portis is only 1-of-8 against the Hornets this season from 3, but Allen is 3-of-5 in his lone game. Aside from the two starters, it also means more shots for guys like Wesley Matthews (six made 3s in two games against Charlotte), Serge Ibaka (struggled from 3 as a Buck so far), DeAndre’ Bembry (famously shooting 55 percent from the corners this season), Jevon Carter, and Jordan Nwora.

The Hornets are very bad defensively and the Bucks haven’t had trouble scoring recently, so expect a good night from the offense (as long as they don’t turn it over).

I’m not suggesting they are or will, but it would be wise for the Milwaukee Bucks to not look past this game and ahead to their looming matchup against the Miami Heat.