Giannis Antetokounmpo's mid-range bucket saved Milwaukee from the surging Pacers late two nights ago, but don't be fooled. All of a sudden, he has developed a problem that nobody saw coming, and it's quietly costing Milwaukee possessions they can't afford to waste.
The Greek Freak is shooting 3-for-14 or 21.4 percent so far on mid-range attempts. Now that might very well just be a cold stretch to start the season, but the fact is that's a massive drop-off from what made him so lethal last season.
In case you need a reminder: he finished at 125-of-283 or 44.2 percent from that area last year, which wasn't only elite; it was among the best in the league.
Giannis has lost his touch from the midrange to start the season
As we all saw last year, the mid-range game opened up so much for Giannis and the Bucks just a season ago. When that shot is going for him, it makes him unstoppable and makes the Bucks that much more dangerous, as defenses have to key in on him more. Teams have to respect the mid-range pull-up, which opens up driving lanes and creates easier looks for teammates. Without it, defenses can sag off and clog the paint without consequences.
Coming off his numbers from last year, opponents aren't at a point yet where they're daring Giannis to shoot from 15 feet. But the longer he stays bricking everything from that distance, the more defenses will take notice.
Obviously, when it happens, that completely changes Milwaukee's offensive attack. Suddenly, the floor spacing shrinks, passing lanes close up, and the Bucks have to work way harder for good shots.
It's just one shot (one that Giannis doesn't take that many of anyway), but it may spell the difference between winning and losing a handful more games for playoff positioning. Every possession matters in a tight Eastern Conference race, and Giannis leaving points on the board with missed jumpers could be the margin between home court advantage and a play-in tournament.
Now it's still far from the end of the world for sure, but what's mildly concerning here is that there's no obvious explanation for the drop-off. Giannis isn't injured, his form hasn't changed dramatically, and he's getting the same looks he converted last season.
Sometimes shots just don't fall, but the longer this lasts, the bigger a concern it should be. Maybe he's rushing, maybe his timing is off, maybe defenses are playing him differently. Maybe Doc Rivers and his assistants are trying something new with his form that we don't see. Or maybe Giannis is just getting used to the looks he's getting under this newer, faster system.
Whatever the cause, Milwaukee needs Giannis to figure this out fast. His mid-range game was a huge part of his offensive evolution and could still be the one skill that elevates him from great to MVP-caliber in a league that still clearly has voters' fatigue for him. Losing that dimension makes him more predictable and easier to defend in crucial moments.
Eight games is still early enough to chalk this up to variance and small sample size. But if this trend continues for another few weeks, it becomes a legitimate concern that opponents will aggressively exploit in the playoffs.
Giannis needs to find his mid-range touch again. Milwaukee's championship hopes might depend on it.