The Milwaukee Bucks have found their 3-point stroke, can they maintain it?

Perimeter shooting has been an emphasis for the Milwaukee Bucks for years now, and it has especially been on display lately. Following the 2022 NBA All-Star break, no team is shooting it better than the defending champions, who are hitting an impressive 41.4 percent of their shots from distance, which has certainly helped propel their 8-2 overall record in these past 10 games. With that said, let us look at how the Milwaukee Bucks have found their stride from long range.

Looking at the Milwaukee Bucks’ red-hot 3-point shooting post-All-Star break

Since returning from the break, the Bucks are heaving the 10th most 3-point attempts on average at 36.7 per contest, but they are first in efficiency at 41.4 percent, according to NBA.com/stats.

As always, Milwaukee’s ability to generate open 3-point looks has played a massive factor in this stretch. While they are seventh in wide open (six or more feet of space) attempts at 18.9 per game, the Bucks are tied for second in average makes with 8.9 per game, an efficient 41.8 percent.

A significant portion of this 3-point success has come from three different Bucks in Grayson Allen, Jrue Holiday, and Jevon Carter. Over his last nine games, Allen is shooting 18-of-31 (58.1 percent) on his “wide open” triple tries, having played his role well as Milwaukee’s go-to on the perimeter. While his attempts have not been plentiful in this stretch, Allen has been showing why he could be a wild card for this team with his electric 3-point shooting.

Holiday has also capitalized on these open looks as he has shot 14-of-28 (50 percent) since his return from the break. The guard is well-known for his prowess in attacking the basket, but when he is shooting the basketball this well from the perimeter as well, he is an incredibly tough cover. Carter has also been beyond impressive as he has gone 10-of-18 (55.6 percent) from behind the arc since joining the Bucks post-All-Star break as he has been just outstanding.

This trio will continue to get a handful of open looks nightly, and they must continue to capitalize.

Along with wide open looks, the Bucks have also found success with their pull-up shooting as they are hitting 5.4 percent of those 3-point attempts per game, tied for the best in the association in this span. The Bucks have not been known for their pull-up shooting as they are more lethal when it comes to catch-and-shoot attempts, but they are doing the former efficiently by knocking down 44.3 percent of their 3-point pull-ups since the break, the second most efficient mark in the NBA.

The player leading the Bucks in this regard is Khris Middleton, who has been scorching hot after he returned from the break. Going 20-of-36 (55.6 percent) on his pull-up threes, Middleton has been outright fantastic from deep over his last 10 games. Given how much the three-time All-Star was struggling with his outside shooting prior to the All-Star break, this stretch has been rejuvenating. Holiday has thrived in this regard as well by shooting 15-of-36 (41.7 percent) on his pull-up triples in this run, as he continues to let it fly with the utmost confidence.

While this hot 3-point shooting has undoubtedly been a collective effort by the Bucks, the players that could potentially be the X-factors moving forward are Middleton and Holiday. As mentioned a moment ago, Middleton was having a tough shooting season prior to the break, but he has caught fire in his last 10 by shooting 47.9 percent from three on 7.3 attempts per game. Holiday has been on a tear as well by shooting 45.5 percent from distance on 5.5 attempts on average. If these two can continue to space the floor this efficiently while also attacking the basket and finding success in the mid-range, it makes Milwaukee that much more versatile offensively.

Given how much the Bucks rely on the 3-point shot, they can certainly keep up the hot shooting as they make a push for the postseason. Everyone will continue to get their share of open looks on a nightly basis, and they must continue letting it fly with confidence when the opportunity presents itself. Milwaukee’s offense has been flying high as they have the best offensive rating in this NBA since play resumed following the All-Star break, and this electric shooting has been a big reason.

The Milwaukee Bucks are in a great shooting rhythm right now, and maintaining that hot hand could be the ultimate X-factor for them down the line this season.