For most of the season, the Milwaukee Bucks were among the top 3-point shooting teams in the NBA. It was one of the few attributes that helped them keep their head above water in what has been a hard season to stomach. However, their shooting prowess has suddenly faltered, and it's among the many reasons they've flat-out crumbled in March.
From the beginning of the season to the end of February, the Milwaukee Bucks ranked second in the league at 39.1 percent from long range. They trailed only the Denver Nuggets, who sank 39.3 percent of their triple tries to that point. This month, though, they are all the way down at 22nd, hitting a mere 33.5 percent of their triples. That has certainly factored into the 1-7 March record.
Bucks' shooting has gone from great to grim
There are several Bucks who have been in a groove this month. Bobby Portis is doing what he can to stabilize the bench, hitting 50 percent of his long-distance shots. Kyle Kuzma, still in an ever-changing role, is at 45.8 percent. Pete Nance, still trying to cement his role in the rotation, is at 35.7 percent for the month of March.
Outside of that, things have been pretty ugly.
Ousmane Dieng, who started shooting the ball red-hot in Milwaukee, is down to 34.4 percent in this recent stretch. Cam Thomas, the once-scorching bench scorer, is down to a measly 27.8 percent in the midst of seemingly losing his role. Taurean Prince's struggles are among the most understandable, given that he's just returning after neck surgery, and he's down at 33.3 percent.
The most surprising name behind Milwaukee's long-range struggles, though, is AJ Green. The guard has been one of the best shooters in the entire NBA this year, but this month, he's looked like a shell of himself, sinking just 26.7 percent of his triple tries. That type of horrific outside shooting is among the reasons Doc Rivers has recently removed Green from the starting five entirely.
Bucks' recipe for success is easy (on paper)
Hit. Your. Wide. Open. Shots.
This month, Milwaukee is sinking just 32.3 percent of their "wide open" shots, defined as looks when the offensive player is giving six or more feet of space to fire. Those shots are a dream for players to receive. The Bucks are generating them, but outside of a few players, they aren't even coming close to hitting these shots as they should.
Myles Turner and Ousmane Dieng are two undeniable culprits. Turner has gone 7-of-25 (28 percent) on these shots this month, while Dieng is at 6-of-20 (30 percent). That type of success rate from a pair of starters won't cut it. AJ Green, typically one of the most feared perimeter shooters in the NBA, is just 1-of-8 (12.5 percent) on these shots.
It sounds simple, but if the Milwaukee Bucks can start sinking some of these looks, it will help their offense mightily. Everyone on this roster, outside of interior force Jericho Sims, is capable; they just need to see a few go down.
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