4 Milwaukee Bucks' preseason takeaways and stats that should spread optimism
By Franco Luna
The Milwaukee Bucks' four-game preseason showcase was a mixed bag, sometimes filled with moments of promise and other times exposing areas needing improvement as they gear up for the regular season.
With a record of 1-3, the Bucks faced tough competition, including losses to the Detroit Pistons and Los Angeles Lakers and a win against the Chicago Bulls. These exhibition games served as a critical testing ground for the team, allowing them to evaluate their new roster dynamics and refine their strategies under Doc Rivers.
The preseason also highlighted some key individual performances that could shape the Bucks' trajectory this season. While the results may not fully reflect their potential, certain statistics and player developments provide optimism for fans eager to see their team contend for another title.
Let's dive into three standout stats that have emerged from this preseason and look at what they might mean for the contending Bucks going forward.
While preseason stats should always be taken with a grain of salt and don't necessarily mean anything just yet, there are a few good insights to take away from what we have so far after these four exhibition matches. Here's what we saw.
Pat Connaughton and Bobby Portis' re-emergence as lethal scorers
Perhaps one of the biggest surprise of the preseason is the re-emergence of Pat Connaughton and Bobby Portis as scoring threats.
Portis led the team in shooting the basketball from distance, registering a whopping 81.8 percent as he sunk three of his 3.7 attempts per game. His shot is looking quicker these days, too; everything from setting his feet and releasing the basketball looks snappier and more purposeful this time around. It's clear he put work in over the summer to hasten that process all around.
This marks a significant improvement for Portis, who struggled with his 3-point shooting last season. His ability to stretch the floor will be crucial for the Milwaukee Bucks, especially as they integrate star Damian Lillard further into their offensive scheme.
Connaughton, who has always been a reliable shooter but had a bit of a down year last season, displayed a return to form with an impressive 41.7 percent clip. Outside of the three-ball, he also got quite a bit of baskets off smart cuts and timely reads.
Compared to his younger counterparts at the wing position, Connaughton separated himself by reading the game like a true veteran. He was also fourth on the team in assists, with 2.5 dimes per contest, showing he can still very much function as a tertiary ball-handler in any lineup.
Of course, since this is still preseason — where defenses are not as likely to close out to shooters with urgency — this is still obviously one of those things where we'll have to see if it holds up into the regular season. The point is this: Connaughton and Portis have looked really, really good shooting the basketball.
But with both Connaughton and Portis finding their rhythm from deep, Milwaukee could become a more versatile offensive team capable of punishing defenses that collapse on Giannis Antetokounmpo and Damian Lillard.