All eyes are on the Milwaukee Bucks’ supporting cast in do or die Game 7

After losing Game 6 on their home floor Friday night, the Milwaukee Bucks are now set to play in a Game 7 versus the Boston Celtics later today.

There are plenty of plans the Bucks will need to execute in this do-or-die Game 7 to keep their title hopes alive, and it starts with getting something meaningful from their supporting cast. There has been no shortage of discussion surrounding the lackluster contributions of Milwaukee’s ensemble cast throughout this series, but they must wipe the slate clean and get it together in this matchup with the team’s playoff lives now hanging in the balance.

The Milwaukee Bucks need the supporting cast to snap out of their series-long slump in Game 7 versus the Boston Celtics

Someone needs to step up and help Giannis Antetokounmpo. Throughout six hard-fought games, he has averaged a herculean 35.3 points, 13.8 rebounds, 6.8 assists, and 1.8 blocks as he has had a dominant series. Unfortunately, the cast, aside from Pat Connaughton, who has been great, has not exactly helped him out too much, which is why this series has been so frustrating.

Jrue Holiday is Milwaukee’s second-leading scorer averaging a respectable 21 points per contest, but his efficiency has been abysmal as he is shooting 35.3 percent from the floor. Though he has made some nice defensive plays, Holiday’s offense has been outright awful. The Bucks need the guard to get it together more than ever and find his stride offensively. Bobby Portis needs to get it going as well, as the big man has averaged 9.8 points while shooting 38.6 percent from the floor in this series. He is more than capable of providing a huge spark off the bench offensively, but it has not been on display lately. Portis will never lack confidence, so he will come out firing in Game 7, and hopefully he can see some shots fall through the net early on.

The Bucks could also use more scoring from Brook Lopez, who has averaged just 7.7 points to this point. Although Lopez has been put in an awkward spot at times due to matchups, he could help a lot by being more aggressive – and smarter – on the offensive end. Wesley Matthews has done his job for the most part offensively as he has shot 38.1 percent from three while totaling 6.2 points per game. The 35-year-old forward is giving so much defensively that the Bucks will not ask him to contribute mightily on offense, but if he is capable, it would help tremendously. Can the Bucks get anything out of Grayson Allen or George Hill? The pair have been liabilities in this series, but head coach Mike Budenholzer continues to give them significant minutes nightly. If they will be on the floor in Game 7, all would be forgiven if they got it together and made an impact.

Whoever it is, someone needs to step up alongside Giannis Antetokounmpo. The Greek Freak had a heroic 44 points in Game 6, but it went to waste because no other Buck came along for the ride. Meanwhile, Boston’s Jayson Tatum had 46, but his supporting cast also came to play as they got 22 from Jaylen Brown and 21 from Marcus Smart. The Bucks need that type of support in Game 7 against the Celtics, and all eyes will be on the supporting cast to see whether they can step up.

Time will tell who has it in them in the Milwaukee Bucks’ biggest game of the season.