After a defeat to the Boston Celtics on November 10, the Milwaukee Bucks fell to 2-8 on the season.
At the time, things undoubtedly looked gloomy, but on a team with as much talent as the Bucks have, there was little doubt that this group could turn things around with the proper tweaks. Indeed, things have been much better for Milwaukee lately, as the team has fired off a 6-1 record over the last seven games, catapulting up to sixth place in the Eastern Conference.
Let us analyze six pivotal stats from this run.
Gary Trent Jr. shooting 57.9 percent from three
To start the season, Gary Trent Jr. couldn't throw a rock in the ocean offensively. Known as one of the most lethal 3-point shooters in the league, this was incredibly uncharacteristic. Rather than riding this out and hoping Trent could catch his rhythm soon, Doc Rivers made the bold move to send Trent to a reserve role. It's proving to be a worthwhile decision early on.
Trent has been much better since coming off the bench, especially in this run. In these seven games, Trent is shooting a blistering 57.9 percent from downtown while averaging 11.1 points. This is exactly the type of play the Bucks thought they were getting from Trent from the sweet-shooting guard from the start, and he's now delivering. This type of floor spacing can be a game-changer.
Delon Wright holding opponents to 37.9 percent field goal shooting
With rising young point guard Ryan Rollins sidelined due to a shoulder injury, Delon Wright reclaimed his role as Milwaukee's backup point guard. After being benched early on in the season in favor of the young Rollins, this would be Wright's second chance to prove himself, particularly defensively, which is why they signed him in the first place. So far, he's delivered.
In the seven games, Wright is holding opponents to 22-of-58 (37.9 percent) shooting from the floor. That is the second-best mark on the Bucks among players to defend 50 at least shots in this stretch, trailing only Andre Jackson Jr. Wright is bringing the defensive prowess the Bucks envisioned when the signed him. If he can get a grip on his offense, his importance will continue to grow.
Brook Lopez averaging 17 points per game
Gruesome would be a light word to describe Brook Lopez's offensive performance to start the year. The big man was having his least-productive offensive season to date, and it was very clearly hurting the Milwaukee Bucks as they fought to get out of their slump. Thankfully, the 36-year-old is showing in this recent stretch that he does indeed have some fuel left in the tank.
Lopez is putting up 17 points per contest in this run, the third-most on the team behind the two stars. A significant factor in this resurgence has been Lopez regaining his 3-point footing, as the big man is sinking 41.3 percent of his triples on 6.6 attempts per game. That type of shooting is what makes the veteran such a great fit with this team, so they need him to keep his foot on the gas in that regard.
Giannis Antetokounmpo shooting 54.5 percent from the mid-range
Throughout his career, Giannis Antetokounmpo, one of the most dominant paint scorers to ever hit the hardwood, has always flirted with implementing a mid-range jumper into the game consistently. During this stretch, not only is he taking a ton of these, but he's sinking them with so much regularity that defenses have suffered from daring him to shoot that shot.
Over these past seven contests, the Greek Freak is shooting a blistering 54.5 percent from this spot. Giannis has always been confident in his jumper, whether the results are there or not, but over these seven games, the results have been spot on, and it's taking this Milwaukee offense to a new level. If he can keep this up, it will force defenses to rethink their nightly gameplan on how to stop Giannis.
Pat Connaughton four straight DNPs
Following Milwaukee's loss to the Charlotte Hornets on November 16, Doc Rivers made the decision to pull Pat Connaughton from the rotation. With Connaughton struggling to start the season, putting up some of his least-productive numbers in his tenure as a Buck, Rivers sent the veteran to the bench in favor of younger players like AJ Green, Andre Jackson Jr. and Gary Trent Jr. It's working so far.
Connaughton's current role is simply being a depth piece on the wing. While he's currently waiting his turn on the bench, Connaughton's name is also floating around in trade rumors as talk swirls that the Bucks are actively looking for deals. It'll be worth monitoring whether or not Connaughton has played his last game with the Milwaukee Bucks.
Bucks have NBA's seventh-best defensive rating
The Milwaukee Bucks simply were not a good defensive team to begin the season, which fueled their 2-8 start. However, after some significant lineup tweaks, they have gotten better and better, currently possessing the seventh-best defensive rating in the entire NBA over these past seven games. Their opponents are shooting just 42.9 percent from the floor, the second-lowest in the league in this span.
One prominent reason for this turnaround is Doc Rivers' long overdue reliance on youth. Players like Andre Jackson Jr. and AJ Green have given the Milwaukee Bucks a defensive lift simply because they have the hustle and energy to stick with younger, quicker players. Taurean Prince and Delon Wright have also come along and found their footing. This team can be special on the defensive end.
Stay tuned for more Milwaukee Bucks analysis.