5 noteworthy X-Factors for the Milwaukee Bucks down the stretch

5 X-Factors Down the Stretch for the Milwaukee Bucks – #s 3, 4, and 5: Grayson Allen, Pat Connaughton, and Jordan Nwora

The last three X-factors for the Milwaukee Bucks during their stretch run is a three-part X-factor, all at the shooting guard position. For Grayson Allen and Pat Connaughton, it is their health, and for Jordan Nwora, the question is what will he do in the absences of the other two.

First, Grayson Allen sat out the first of the Bucks back-to-back games on Tuesday and Wednesday against Oklahoma City, dealing with hip soreness, something that’s kept him out of several games this season. Grayson played Wednesday night and looked fine physically and doesn’t look like the injury hampers him much athletically. Perhaps the sitting out on back-to-back games is just for maintenance, something to keep an eye on during the regular season, but there is no back-to-back games in the playoffs.

Second, Pat Connaughton has been sidelined for the past several weeks after undergoing surgery to repair a fractured right fourth metacarpal. The initial timetable for Connaughton’s return was listed at four weeks. That injury occurred on February 10, and the guard had surgery shortly after, so his return may be on the horizon. Connaughton was playing the best basketball of his career before the injury, so getting him back will be a massive boost.

Lastly, Jordan Nwora finds himself in a place of opportunity with the Milwaukee Bucks, partly because of the injury to Pat Connaughton, he can attempt to fill the role of bench shooter, and for the games, Grayson Allen misses, like Tuesday night, Nwora gets the opportunity to start the game. Jordan Nwora has potential. He’s athletic, is a confident shooter, and has the ability to get into the paint and use his size and athleticism to score over smaller defenders.

So Jordan Nwora now is in a place where his opportunity and potential are meeting. If Nwora can show off that he is capable of stepping up for the Bucks in these games down the stretch run, he could aid his own cause to potentially be a bigger role player next season.

Since the Milwaukee Bucks game against the Portland Trail Blazers on February 14, the Bucks’ first game after Pat Connaughton got hurt, Jordan Nwora is shooting 44.4 percent on field goals and 32.4 percent on 3-point shots. Nwora is struggling a bit from behind the arc, but where he has found some success is getting closer to the basket, as, in the same stretch, Nwora is 20-of-35 on 2-point shots, 57.1 percent. What Jordan Nwora can do is use his efficiency inside the line to help build his confidence and get him going and gradually move away from the basket and then shoot his threes with confidence that they’re going to fall.

If Jordan Nwora can step up and do that for the Milwaukee Bucks down the stretch, where they have some tough games and a lot of road games, the Bucks will continue showing that they are one of the deepest teams in the league. Nwora may earn himself a more significant role for next year as well.