Milwaukee Bucks Player Grades: Forwards
Joe Ingles: B
It was a rough start for Ingles after he returned from injury in December, shooting just 19 percent from three in his first five games and having more turnovers than assists. However, since then, Ingles has really played the way Bucks fans expected him to off the bench, shooting 43 percent from three with three times as many assists as turnovers.
He has become a steady shooting option and solid as a ball handler off the bench, which the Bucks very much needed. His defense hasn’t been great, but offensively he lived up to expectations and will have some important minutes in the playoffs. The nice thing about Ingles is that even if his shot does go cold, his ball handling and passing can still be valuable.
Khris Middleton: B-
Middleton is a tough player to grade. He missed more time than anyone expected and really provided almost nothing up until January 23. Even after returning, his minutes were limited at the beginning, and he didn’t become a starter again until March. Considering many were hoping he wouldn’t miss much time at all this season, he definitely can’t be graded too high after only starting in 12 games. However, Middleton has actually ramped himself up very well since coming back and has gotten pretty close to his usual self going into the playoffs.
In the last month of the season before tweaking his injury again, he averaged 20 points and seven assists on 47 percent from the field and 36 percent from three. If his defensive intensity can improve in the playoffs like it usually does and his offense remains where it’s been lately, Middleton will once again be that key sidekick to Giannis that the Bucks were missing last year.