Joe Ingles offered a glimpse of what he can bring to the Milwaukee Bucks

Throughout his first five games as a member of the Milwaukee Bucks, it was not controversial to say that Joe Ingles had a tough time getting going.

The veteran struggled to find his shot and repeatedly turned the ball over. Given that Ingles had just returned from a ten-month layoff due to rehabilitation from an ACL tear, his struggles were somewhat expected. Playing in an unfamiliar system on a new team for the very first time in his nine-year career while coming off such a brutal injury, patience was needed as Ingles got up to speed and remembered what it was like to play in an NBA game. After a few games, Ingles found his stride and gave the Bucks a significant boost in their most recent game on Friday night.

How Joe Ingles stepped up mightily in the Milwaukee Bucks’ last game

With Jrue Holiday, Khris Middleton, and George Hill all set to be sidelined for the Milwaukee Bucks’ matchup with the Minnesota Timberwolves, the team needed others to step up. Thankfully, when the Bucks needed him, Ingles answered the call and stepped up in a handful of ways. However, at halftime, things were not looking good for the Bucks. They trailed 61-50 at the break, which was mainly due to their poor 3-point shooting. The Bucks were 3-for-22 from deep after the first two quarters and could not throw a rock in the ocean.

With three points and three assists to his name, Ingles checked into the game in the third quarter with 6:11 to go. For the rest of the quarter, Ingles gave the Bucks a huge boost as he tallied eight points on 3-of-6 shooting, including a pair of nice-looking triples. Ingles’ facilitating was on point as well as he tallied three assists, having got his teammates in on the action as well. His effort to get the offense going was a major factor in the team outscoring Minnesota 39-22 in the period. While he went on to knock down just one more shot in the fourth quarter, Ingles kept passing it around to his teammates and notched four more assists to add to his total.

In total, Ingles finished with 14 points on 5-of-9 shooting, including 4-of-7 from downtown, while also tallying an impressive ten assists and five boards. The biggest issue from Ingles showing was that he had four ugly turnovers, but it did not matter in the end as his efforts helped the Bucks snap a brutal four-game losing skid with a 123-114 win. Ingles helped the Bucks end 2022 on the right note with a big win and simultaneously showed a glimpse of what he could bring in 2023.

Joe Ingles offered a glimpse of what he can bring to the Milwaukee Bucks

While Joe Ingles will likely not tally 14 points and ten assists for the Milwaukee Bucks nightly, the veteran showed in the win that he could score, facilitate, and create with the basketball during his time on the floor. Given that those have been three issues for the Bucks in recent memory, Ingles could possibly help this team out in a big way offensively moving forward.

Shooting-wise, Ingles signed with the Bucks as one of the best long-range shooters in the league. Given Milwaukee’s tendency to go ice cold from the perimeter at times, it was expected that Ingles would help keep them warm, and he did so in their latest win. He may not shoot 57.1 percent from 3-point shooters consistently, but Ingles could undoubtedly cement himself as one of the better long-range shooters on this Milwaukee roster. Everyone on the team will continue encouraging Ingles to let it fly with the utmost confidence, and he will certainly oblige them.

Mostly everyone knew that shooting was Ingles’ biggest boon when he came to Milwaukee, but a lot of people may not have been as aware of his passing ability. Having averaged 3.8 assists in eight seasons before signing with the Bucks, Ingles was a rather reliable facilitator who always looked to get his teammates involved. Despite several sloppy turnovers, Ingles has brought over that quality passing ability to Milwaukee. His ability to handle the basketball and orchestrate the offense at times could be huge for the Bucks, as it will take pressure off of other ball-handlers like Giannis Antetokounmpo and Jrue Holiday. It is especially important right now due to the absence of Khris Middleton.

Speaking of the absence of Khris Middleton, the Bucks are missing one of their top shot creators with him on the sidelines. That has plagued the team mightily this year, especially in games when Holiday or Antetokounmpo have not played either. Moving forward, Ingles should provide help in that department, as he can go and get his own shot from time to time. The Bucks might not rely too heavily on Ingles’ creation, but it will be a nice option for them to have, as he showed in the solid win over the Minnesota Timberwolves.

In short, Ingles looked great in Milwaukee’s last contest, and hopefully that is the game that helps the veteran forward get going, as he could undoubtedly be a huge piece on the depth chart.

The front office knew how impactful of a player a healthy Joe Ingles could potentially be, and it will be interesting to watch him continue to try and find his groove with the Bucks.