The Milwaukee Bucks have 15 more regular season games left to play before the NBA Playoffs.
As things stand, the Bucks are in a great spot. They sit at 48-19 overall, giving them the top spot in the Eastern Conference and the best record in the NBA. Despite dealing with countless injuries this season, they have battled through adversity and have a chance to finish the regular season as the East’s top seed for the first time since 2020. Yet, it feels like the Bucks still have an extra gear they can get into down the stretch. To do so, they will need more from several major players, and here are three of them.
3 Milwaukee Bucks who have more to give down the stretch – Pat Connaughton
It’s been an incredibly tough year for Pat Connaughton, who started the season sidelined due to a calf injury. Since taking the floor in late November, Connaughton has not been able to shake off his rust and has struggled to find his footing this season.
On the year, Connaughton is averaging 8.1 points per game, which is the second most of his NBA career. However, he’s shooting just 38.7 percent from the field, which is the second-worst mark of his career, and 34.3 percent from three, which is his lowest since 2019-20. Connaughton, who has become an ever-reliable shooter over the past two seasons, has shot above 33.3 percent from the perimeter in just one month this season.
The Bucks desperately need him to regain that shooting stroke of his, as Connaughton has proven he can be a reliable role player on a title team when his shot is falling. After all, this is a player who hit the second-most 3-pointers in the 2021 NBA Finals. Connaughton certainly has the ability to shake off this slump, and doing so before the postseason would be a tremendous boost for a unit looking for more outside shooting.
A late-season turnaround from Connaughton could have a major impact on the Bucks’ bench unit.
3 Milwaukee Bucks who have more to give down the stretch – Khris Middleton
Like Pat Connaughton, Khris Middleton started the year injured and on the sidelines. The All-Star has dealt with various injuries during the year and has missed significant time, which has been a major reason for his inconsistent production. Yet, Middleton obviously has what it takes to turn it around and get going; the Bucks just need him to flip that switch.
On the floor, Middleton’s biggest issue has been his inability to get into a groove offensively at all. He is currently shooting 41.2 percent from the floor and 29.2 percent from behind the arc, both of which are new career lows for the veteran. Given how tremendous of a three-level scorer he has turned out to be in his career, these numbers are uncharacteristic for Middleton, and the Bucks need him to turn things around with the playoffs on the horizon.
Middleton is still trying to get his feet wet this season, as he was recently promoted back into the starting five and remains on a minutes restriction. It can be tough for a player to find himself on a minutes limit and being monitored so closely, but Middleton undoubtedly has the tools to make it work. When he’s on, he’s one of the most lethal scorers in the game today. With the postseason in view, the Bucks are hoping Middleton can return to form sometime soon.
3 Milwaukee Bucks who have more to give down the stretch – Jae Crowder
Unlike Pat Connaughton and Khris Middleton, Jae Crowder isn’t included because the Bucks need him to shoot better or put up more points. In this case, Crowder has more to give because he can play a bigger role than the team currently has him doing.
In nine games with the Bucks, Crowder has averaged 18 minutes per game, which would be his lowest since 2013-14. It seems like the Bucks are trying to ease Crowder back into playing NBA minutes after he sat out the entire first portion of the season. Understandably, they want him to regain his footing, and when he does, he will certainly have more to give.
Crowder fits so well with the Bucks that he could very well be a starter once the coaching staff feels ready to give him legitimate minutes. His defense and 3-point shooting would be a perfect complement to everyone else in the lineup. While Grayson Allen has been fine as the fifth starter, Crowder offers more defense, which is something this team values highly. Coach Budenholzer took a similar approach last season when he inserted Wesley Matthews into the lineup over Allen, and it would not be surprising to see him replicate that with Crowder this season.
Stay tuned to see how these Bucks perform down the stretch.