3 Eyebrow-raising individual stats involving the Milwaukee Bucks after All-Star break
By Dalton Sell
The Milwaukee Bucks are 9-3 following the NBA All-Star break, playing rather well outside of an ugly trip out West, where they went a putrid 1-3.
Milwaukee has excellent wins in this run, including one over the ascending Minnesota Timberwolves and one against the Phoenix Suns, despite not having Giannis Antetokounmpo. Though they are yet to play a game fully healthy since returning to action, the Bucks look like a team that is starting to put together some pieces under Doc Rivers.
That said, let us highlight some individual stats that have been produced over these 12 games.
No. 1 - Jae Crowder is holding opponents to 40.6 percent field goal shooting
It's been a hectic season for Jae Crowder, who started the year off very well, only to suffer an injury in November that forced him to miss several months and undergo surgery. Since returning, the forward has struggled to find his footing on the offensive end, outside of an impressive showcase against his former squad in Phoenix, but he's given them a significant boost on defense.
In these 12 games, Crowder has held opponents to 41-of-101 shooting, coming out to 40.6 percent, per NBA.com/stats. That is currently tied for the seventh-best mark in the league in that span among forwards who have defended at least 100 shots. Starting every game after the break, Crowder has taken on his share of tough assignments for the Milwaukee Bucks, and he's done well against them.
Crowder will be a key piece for Milwaukee moving forward due to this type of defense. He is the type of wing defender this team has been seeking, as his versatility makes him valuable when there are a handful of excellent scorers on the visitor's side. If Crowder can continue playing this tough brand of defense down the stretch and into the playoffs, his importance will know no bounds whatsoever.
In the playoffs over the past two seasons, Milwaukee's downfall has been an inability to slow down top wings like Jayson Tatum, Jaylen Brown and Jimmy Butler. If the Bucks plan on maing a run at a title this season, they will likely have to go through these players or others like them. No one should expect Crowder to shut down them, but this brand of tough, physical defense could be a huge lift.