AJ Green is already having a career year, but if he wants to take things with the Milwaukee Bucks a step further, he must find his stride in transition. On the season, Green has scored 13 points on a vile 4-of-17 shooting (23.5 percent) in transition. As one of the game's best marksmen, Green can make opposing defenses pay with that smooth shot on the break. Yet, he just hasn't yet. Now, he must.
The Bucks need AJ Green to up his transition efficiency
The Milwaukee Bucks made it very clear that they wanted to be a better transition team this season. While having players like Giannis Antetokounmpo, Ryan Rollins, and Kevin Porter Jr. attack the hoop helps that approach mightily, so would more 3-pointers from Green. The formula is simple. Anyone in that trio drives, kicks it to Green, and he fires from deep for a good look. Easy points. Well, not quite.
Despite being one of the NBA's best catch-and-shoot threats—Green is shooting 46.4 percent on such 3-point looks this season—the wing hasn't had much success with this shot. Considering that the Bucks rank bottom 10 in transition points per game this season, even with Giannis doing heavy lifting in that regard, Green finding his groove in these situations would help the team mightily.
The looks are there. Everyone knows Giannis wants to bulldoze his way to the hoop, forcing defenses to collapse and focus on him. Shooters like Green, as long as they run the floor, will be open, and it's no secret that Giannis can find them with a pretty pass. On paper, it all sounds easy, but the execution just hasn't been there yet for whatever reason.
It's hopefully just an early-season bump in the road for Green. As the team's starting small forward, his playing time will remain plentiful. He's already having a breakout campaign, averaging 11.3 points while hitting 49.3 percent of his triples, but the lack of success in transition is holding him back from reaching another level. If he starts hitting these in extended minutes, it will further fuel his ascension.
They already have the most dominant transition threat in Giannis. Having a complementary piece on the break with him in AJ Green could make this team even more lethal.
Between knocking down these shots and cutting back on the fouls, Green has several early goals to work on.
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