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.
3 Bucks’ role players who can change their perception in the NBA Playoffs – Jae Crowder
It’s been a wild year for Jae Crowder. After requesting a trade from the Phoenix Suns before the season, he sat out until landing with the Bucks in February. During this entire saga, Crowder was the subject of plenty of backlash. Fans, analysts, and others questioned Crowder’s decision with questions like, “Who does he think he is? He’s not that guy.” If Crowder can be the guy the Bucks envisioned and help them succeed in the playoffs, he could certainly quiet his doubters.
Crowder has what it takes to help this Milwaukee team; there’s a reason they were determined to get him for several months. The veteran forward has an incredible amount of experience, including two trips to the NBA Finals, and fills a hole on Milwaukee’s roster as a big wing defender. Crowder checks off all of the boxes for the Bucks and could play a huge part in the team’s rotation with the playoffs nearing. He could even be promoted into the starting lineup at some point, possibly.
A strong showing in the postseason could undeniably change Crowder’s perception in what has been a turbulent season for the veteran forward. It could also help showcase his value and earn him a hefty raise when he enters free agency this offseason. It will be fascinating to see what Crowder can do on the big stage with the playoffs on the horizon.
3 Bucks’ role players who can change their perception in the NBA Playoffs – Grayson Allen
No Bucks player received more criticism during last year’s playoff run than Grayson Allen after he went completely cold in round two. Following that poor performance against Boston, Allen spent the next few months shrouded in trade rumors, and some fans pleaded for the team to trade him just to get him off of the roster. Right now, plenty of people seemingly view him as a liability, but Allen has a chance to prove those fans wrong throughout the playoffs.
Allen’s situation has the potential to mirror Pat Connaughton’s just a couple of years ago, which was just detailed. Connaughton went from a player most of the fanbase did not want to see return to a fan favorite in the span of a few months. A similar turnaround could be in store for Allen if he bounces back from last year’s postseason debacle. Like Connaughton, Allen will have to hit his shots from long range and play strong defense to get back on the right track in the playoffs.
Keep an eye on these three Milwaukee Bucks’ role players in the upcoming 2023 NBA Playoffs.