After a week of hectic travel issues, the Milwaukee Bucks hit the road again to face the LA Clippers.
Riding a five-game win streak, the Bucks certainly had something to feel good about lately, but this game reminded the team and fans how quickly that can be ripped away. After going back and forth for the first three quarters, Milwaukee flat-out fell asleep in the final period, being outscored 33-24 during the final 12 minutes, resulting in a 127-117 LA win.
Let's analyze a few studs and duds that defined the contest.
Stud - Giannis Antetokounmpo
In this game, Giannis had 36 points, 13 rebounds, one assist and one blocked shot. Stat lines like this have become the new norm for the Greek Freak, so this might not jump out to some. However, the big takeaway that deserves praise is how well Giannis shot it from the stripe. The power forward sunk 12 of his 15 tries, an impressive 80 percent.
Considering that Giannis Antetokounmpo is in the middle of his worst free-throw shooting season, it was nice to see him step to the line and knock them down consistently. Now, the primary key will be sustaining this groove moving forward. It looked like the forward was exploring different routines at the line in his pregame warmups, and if there's one that helps him shoot like this, he should stick to it.
Dud - Khris Middleton
This was one of the worst games Khris Middleton has had in a Bucks uniform. In 19 minutes, he didn't score a single point, missing all four of his shot attempts. On top of that uncharacteristic feat, he had four fouls and was a -16 for the game, the worst mark on the Milwaukee Bucks. The small forward was picked on defensively several times, and it was clear that he struggled to keep up.
Khris Middleton has been involved in a lot of trade chatter lately as the deadline nears, and this game is a perfect reason why. There will be questions about whether this was just one bad contest or if this regression will simply become the new norm for a forward who has had a tough time finding his game for much of the season.
Stud - Gary Trent Jr.
Gary Trent Jr. has been on fire lately, playing like the marksman Bucks fans were dreaming of when the team first signed him. Fresh off knocking down seven 3-pointers in his last outing, Trent poured in 19 points on five 3-point makes in this one. Milwaukee needed every bucket from Trent to stay in this game, as he was the only reserve to put points on the board.
For whatever reason, Trent has simply clicked for the Milwaukee Bucks lately. He looks as confident as ever whenever he has a look at the hoop, and the results speak for themselves. Milwaukee needs him to keep firing away in such an aggressive manner, as he can be a legitimate X-factor off of the bench due to his sweet shooting and defensive instincts.
Dud - Pat Connaughton
With the Bucks banged up and also dealing with several players getting themselves into foul trouble, Pat Connaughton earned nine minutes in this game. It's been clear for some time now that the wing's best days are behind him, and this game did nothing to deter that idea. Connaughton's contributions included two assists and a rebound, serving as one of those aforementioned scoreless reserves.
When the Milwaukee Bucks are healthy, Connaughton isn't in the rotation, and this game served as a clear reminder why. Connaughton simply does not impact the game like he once could, and it largely revolves around his inability to stick with players defensively. That was on display throughout this particular game, and it hurt the Bucks again and again.
Dud - Doc Rivers
Sticking with Pat Connaughton, it's always puzzling when Doc Rivers gives him extended minutes while neglecting Andre Jackson Jr. While Jackson wasn't perfect in this game - his foul issues were on display - there's no reason he's only playing a little over a minute more than Connaughton these days, given how often Jackson has shown he can help this team in extended minutes.
It was especially puzzling as James Harden (40 points) and Norman Powell (33 points) simply went off against the Milwaukee Bucks. This team needed someone who could provide some resistance on the defensive end, and Rivers kept one of Milwaukee's best defenders on the bench. Every bucket by one of these two while Jackson was on the bench was a slap in the face.
Stay tuned for more Milwaukee Bucks analysis.