Takeaways from Milwaukee Bucks’ win over Washington Wizards: fans need to be patient with players returning from injury
We as fans need to be patient with players who are returning from injuries and absences, Giannis Antetokounmpo notwithstanding because he is the exception. Jrue Holiday returned to the Milwaukee Bucks rotation after having not played since the Bucks’ Christmas Day loss to the Boston Celtics. Holiday came off the bench as he has similarly to previous stints where he’s missed games. Jrue in this game got off to a slow start, hit a couple of 3-pointers and then cooled off again. Jrue finished with just six points on 2-of-8 shooting with one rebound and three turnovers, Holiday was 2-for-4 behind the 3-point line but overall we know this isn’t a standard Jrue Holiday game.
Joe Ingles began to break off the rust last Friday against the Minnesota Timberwolves when he put up a 14 point, 10 assist double double, however, is just two of his last nine field goal attempts in the two games against the Wizards, all 3-point shots. Against the Wizards on Tuesday night, Ingles did have six points, added four assists, three rebounds and a steal and just one turnover in a little over 18 minutes. So while not his best game, it wasn’t useless either, Ingles will continue to improve.
This reminder to be patient with injured players, as we were with Pat Connaughton, is to set precedent for Khris Middleton’s eventual return. Hopefully Middleton’s return happens this weekend but we don’t have an exact date on yet. Middleton had the sickness that has been traveling through the Milwaukee Bucks locker room and will likely need a bit more time to up his conditioning level. Regardless of when he returns, Bucks fans shouldn’t expect him to be at All-Star level in his first return to action.