3 Bucks’ role players who can change their perception in the NBA Playoffs
By Dalton Sell
After a wild regular season, the Milwaukee Bucks will be gearing up for the 2023 NBA Playoffs.
The NBA Playoffs are where history is truly made; one postseason run can change a player’s entire perception. Before the 2021 title, many questioned whether Giannis Antetokounmpo could be the top player on a championship team. That same season, many accused Khris Middleton of being an incompetent number-two option on a title team. Both proved those notions wrong after winning a championship for the first time in their careers.
Looking at this Milwaukee roster, there are plenty of players whose perception could be altered depending on how things go in this playoff run. With that said, let us look at three Bucks who fit the profile.
3 Bucks’ role players who can change their perception in the NBA Playoffs – Pat Connaughton
Pat Connaughton has had an up-and-down season to this point. After missing time to start the season due to a calf injury, the shooting guard failed to find a groove once he came back. That has translated to a season-long shooting slump for him, as he is shooting 39.2 percent from the floor, which is the lowest mark of his career behind his rookie season. After shooting 38.5 percent from long range over the last two years, Connaughton has shot just 33.9 percent this season. His slump has some fans questioning whether or not he could make an impact in the upcoming playoffs.
Connaughton has been down this road before. After a poor showing in the 2020 NBA Playoffs, a large portion of the fanbase wanted the guard out of town. Yet, he returned and proved to be an incredibly important contributor to the team’s title run, especially in the NBA Finals. Connaughton achieved redemption then, and he can certainly do it once more. Just like that playoff run, any and all contributions Connaughton makes must start from behind the arc. He developed into one of the most reliable shooters on the team prior to this season’s sudden slump.
If Connaughton can provide reliable 3-point shooting while also playing quality defense, he could be a difference-maker off of the bench and change his current perception.