The Bucks are back. After a few rough games, Milwaukee showed out against Portland on Monday night. The entire team seemed to step up their game after a very poor effort against the Hornets Saturday, and almost everything went their way throughout the game. Let me break down the game for you!
Bucks Moving the Ball
Tonight’s game may have been Milwaukee’s best passing performance of the season. Out of 53 made field goals, an incredible 38 of them were assisted. Several players had big parts in that total. Khris Middleton led the way with nine dimes while Jrue, Giannis and DJ Augustin each had six assists themselves.
The players were moving very well off-ball tonight and they hit their open shots unlike some other games. It seemed once they started to separate themselves from Portland that they began playing with joy again and the ball flowed freely to everybody. If the Bucks can continue sharing the ball like they did tonight, the defense can only hope they miss their shots.
Improved Three Point Performance by Bucks
Bucks fans should be relieved, for the first time in the last four games, they did not give up 20 or more threes in a game. Despite a hot start from Portland from outside, the Bucks turned the tide and began forcing misses. The Blazers finished the game 15-42 (35.7%), just below Portland’s 37.6% mark for the season so far.
To make it even sweeter, the Bucks finished the game shooting 21-42 from behind the arc. They began the game 8-10 from deep and continued to make a very high percentage of their shots after that. Middleton went 4-4 from three, Holiday 2-3, DJ Augustin 4-6, Portis 3-5 and Forbes 3-5. When all of those players have to be respected from deep it opens up the paint even more as well. Let’s hope they can continue to have at least a few players shoot respectably from there every game to open things up around Giannis going forward.
Bobby Portis Flexes his Muscles
One could argue that Bobby Portis was the player of the game tonight. Playing excellent offense and defense in his 24 minutes of play. Scoring 21 points on an efficient 9-13 from the field, he dominated all game. Portis is looking more and more like a great pick up for Milwaukee. Portis finished the game with a +/- of +31 in 24 minutes. When he plays well the whole team does well. He has definitely been the difference maker in many of their wins so far.
In addition to putting up great stats, Portis also had a some highlight plays. Check out this great defensive play against Kanter, Portis anticipated his spin move and took the ball out of his hands before he could even put up his shot!
.@BPortisTime at the half:
15 PTS | 5 REB | 2 AST | 75% 3PT | 16 MIN pic.twitter.com/Dp36oeYf7C
— Milwaukee Bucks (@Bucks) February 2, 2021
Tip Jams for All
Okay, I don’t have much to add here outside of what happened. But there were three highlight tip jams by three different Bucks throughout the night that I feel need to be shared. Portis, Connaughton, and Thanasis all took part in the fun. So without further adieu, you’re welcome.
BOBBY PORTIS PUTBACK JAM. pic.twitter.com/pWoBHF8GnH
— Milwaukee Bucks (@Bucks) February 2, 2021
Peanut butter & jelly.@PConnaughton & putback dunks. pic.twitter.com/AobMN4Shhm
— Milwaukee Bucks (@Bucks) February 2, 2021
THANASIS MEAN MUG!! pic.twitter.com/6NeuHuw6C0
— Milwaukee Bucks (@Bucks) February 2, 2021
Additional Notes:
Coach Budenholzer
With Bucks’ Twitter blowing up after their last game calling for Bud to make adjustments, it seems he heard them. Budenholzer put Craig into the lineup in the first quarter, the Bucks didn’t allow nearly as many open three pointers, and he had players outside of Giannis initiate the offense most of the game.
My favorite Bud moment though? At one point in the second quarter the Bucks had Giannis, Lopez, Middleton, Portis, and Jrue on the floor. Essentially a collection of their best rim defender (Lopez), best finisher (Giannis), best perimeter player (Jrue), their best all-round shooter (Middleton) and a great all-round player in Portis. One could argue this is their best five players but it leaves Milwaukee with three players 6’10’ or taller on the floor at the same time. The short stint resulted in a 7-2 run for the Bucks, I’d like to see this lineup more often going forward.
[pickup_prop id=”4613″]
Jrue Holiday
Jrue had a heck of a game tonight as well on both sides of the ball. Scoring a game high 22 points on an efficient 10-14 shooting along with seven rebounds, six assists, and three steals. He again showed us why Milwaukee made their big move this offseason for him, look for his role to become even more prominent as the season moves on.
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