WI Sports HeroicsWI Sports Heroics

    Subscribe to Updates

    Get the latest creative news from FooBar about art, design and business.

    What's Hot
    Milwaukee Brewers Jon Singleton Promotion

    Milwaukee Brewers To Promote Slugging 1st Baseman (Report)

    June 2, 2023
    Milwaukee Brewers, George Scott, George Scott III

    Son, Grandson of Milwaukee Brewers Legend Found Dead in Apparent Murder-Suicide

    June 2, 2023
    USATSI 20811828 168400517 lowres

    Milwaukee Brewers: Corbin Burnes Ejected For 1st Time In Career

    June 2, 2023
    Facebook Twitter Instagram
    Trending
    • Milwaukee Brewers To Promote Slugging 1st Baseman (Report)
    • Son, Grandson of Milwaukee Brewers Legend Found Dead in Apparent Murder-Suicide
    • Milwaukee Brewers: Corbin Burnes Ejected For 1st Time In Career
    • Green Bay Packers: Romeo Doubs Compares Jordan Love to Aaron Rodgers
    • 100 Days to Green Bay Packers Kickoff: Greatest Player #100- Daryn Colledge
    • Former Green Bay Packers Wide Receiver Signs With AFC Contender (NFL News)
    • Brewers shortstop Wily Adames resumed baseball activities today
    • Wisconsin Football Impresses Athlete Kaj Sanders With Exceptional Visit
    • About Us
    • Contact Us
    • Mark Mayfield
    • Our Writers
    • Store
    Facebook Twitter RSS
    WI Sports HeroicsWI Sports Heroics
    SUBSCRIBE FOR FREE
    • Packers
      • Aaron Rodgers News
      • Jordan Love News
      • Packers News
      • Packers Rumors
      • Packers History
    • Bucks
      • Giannis Antetokounmpo News
      • Bucks News
      • Bucks Rumors
    • Brewers
      • Brewers News
      • Brewers Rumors
    • Badgers
      • Wisconsin Badgers Football
      • Wisconsin Badgers Basketball
      • Wisconsin Badgers Women’s Basketball
      • Wisconsin Badgers Volleyball
      • Wisconsin Badgers Hockey
      • Wisconsin Badgers Wrestling
    • Marquette
      • Marquette Basketball
    • Draft
      • 2023 NFL Draft Big Board & Scouting Reports
      • 2023 NFL Mock Drafts
    • Milkmen
      • Milwaukee Milkmen News
      • Milwaukee Milkmen Rumors
    • Podcasts
      • CheeseDads Sports
      • Packers Podcast
      • Wickett On Wisconsin
    • Fantasy
    • NFL
    WI Sports HeroicsWI Sports Heroics
    Home»Sports»Bucks»Bucks News»Bucks: Reasons For Mid-Season Optimism
    Bucks News

    Bucks: Reasons For Mid-Season Optimism

    Sean FoleyBy Sean FoleyJanuary 13, 2022Updated:March 30, 2023No Comments6 Mins Read
    Facebook Twitter Pinterest LinkedIn Tumblr Email
    7cd48fe8cf34f09d835f7efb50b0180a XL
    Share
    Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Pinterest Email

    The Bucks are officially past the midway point of the NBA’s 82 game season. The defending champions are currently sitting fourth in the East with a 26-17 record. Milwaukee is three games behind the Chicago Bulls, who occupy the first seed. That’s not a bad position to be in, and there are plenty of things to be happy with thus far.

    So, let’s have a look at some positives the Bucks have displayed throughout the season.

    Jrue Holiday

    Jrue1
    Bucks: Reasons For Mid-Season Optimism 4

    Jrue is playing at an All-Star level. Yes, he’s missed many games during the season due to an ankle injury and/or the league’s Health and Safety Protocols. But on the whole, he has been superb for the Milwaukee Bucks.

    Through 33 games, Holiday is averaging 18.4 points, 4.6 rebounds, 6.7 assists and 1.6 steals in 33 minutes per game. He’s shooting 49.9% from the field, including 38% from beyond the arc. Add in his 71% from the free throw line and it’s certainly something for Bucks fans to be happy about.

    The biggest takeaway for me is that Jrue came back stronger this year. We all know he had rocky stages in last season’s playoff run with his shooting, which frustrated us all. However, it shows a lot about the man to be able to improve so much this season and not let that affect him.

    There’s obviously no guarantees that he will be able to keep this up all season and into playoffs. But if he can, the Bucks are potentially unstoppable when you factor in Giannis, Khris, and the rest of the rotation.

    Giannis for MVP x3

    Giannis 1
    Bucks: Reasons For Mid-Season Optimism 5

    Giannis already has 2 MVP awards, amongst other accolades in his trophy cabinet, for good reason. And this season, he’s making a hell of a case to win MVP for the third time in his career.

    He’s averaging 28.4 points per game (32.5 mins) on 54.1% shooting (including 28.4% from the three-point line). Whilst his shooting percentages are down ever so slightly from last year, he is shooting more. Plus, his points per game have also improved.

    After what seemed like the controversy of the decade, Giannis has cut his free throw routine down. We all remember opposing fans counting incredibly quickly to 10 seconds every time he was at the line. They still do that occasionally, but at least now they have to count even faster. In 10.5 attempts per game, Giannis is hitting 70% of his shots. Again, this is an improvement on last year. Given the amount of times #34 is fouled, this an important stat. He can collect a whole lot of points at the line if he can keep this up.

    Along with impressive scoring averages, Giannis is logging 11.4 rebounds, six assists, 1.1 steals, and 1.4 blocks per game.

    Defensive Powerhouse

    I could speak about Giannis’s offense all night, but there’s more to the Greek Freak than the fact that he’s an offensive juggernaut.

    His play on the other side of the court is second to none. In fact, you could argue a solid case for him to win the DPOY award this season. Giannis has come up with some crazy blocks and huge defensive plays thus far. He never gives up on a play, meaning opponents constantly have to think of option number two for getting to the rim. Nobody is safe around the man.

    Milwaukee's Giannis Antetokounmpo wins 2019-20 Kia NBA Defensive Player of  the Year Award | NBA.com

    I could sit here and compare Giannis to KD and Steph this season, since they’re both rightfully in the hunt for the MVP award. But this is a piece about the Bucks, so I won’t. What I will say is this: all three are some of the best to ever play the game of basketball. We are all incredibly lucky to be able to watch them play.

    But for what it’s worth, I’ve got Giannis as MVP with KD and Steph coming second and third, respectively. Let’s get those MVP chants going at the Fiserv Forum. Make them so loud, I can hear them from Scotland, and I’ll join in from my front room with a beer.

    Bucks Rotation

    Let’s be honest, we have seen plenty of starting line-ups and rotations throughout the season so far. Along with injuries, we’ve had Health and Safety Protocols to deal with. And boy, we’ve had our fair share of those. Yes, every team in the NBA has had to deal with both, but it takes a lot to come out the other side just as strong. That’s exactly what the Bucks have done.

    Every player on the Bucks roster has missed games for one reason or another. All of our starting five have missed at least nine games each, including Brook Lopez, who missed all but the opening night win against the Nets. Brook has been a huge loss; he is the backbone of our defense, even when Giannis is being Giannis on the defensive end.

    Personally, I think a lot of praise needs to go to two players who have really upped their game this season. Bobby Portis has stepped into the starting five and been brilliant, and Pat Connaughton has been hot off the bench and/or starting when required. The man has even taken a kick or two to the face for the team this season. If there was an Iron Man award, Pat would have it in the bag.

    The rotation has been interesting to say the least, with Jordan Nwora and Sandro Mamukelashvili getting more minutes than we all expected at the start of the season. Both have shown positives in their performances for being a second year player and a rookie. Yes, they have improvements to make, but the fact that they’ve been able to step up when required says a lot about them both.

    The other side of the coin is two players who haven’t delivered: Semi Ojeleye and Rodney Hood. It has gotten to the point that Semi doesn’t even see the floor now, which given our struggles at times with player fitness says a lot. Will he perhaps be used as a pawn in a trade? Who knows, but it is clear to see he isn’t a good fit for the Bucks as it stands.

    Grayson Allen deserves a mention, too. Although he has cooled off slightly now, he started out great for the team and is still averaging 11.9 points on 41% shooting, including just shy of 39% from three. This will inevitably lead to a Donte vs. Grayson debate, but let’s save that for another article.

    Looking Ahead

    We’ve beaten some good teams and lost some games that we shouldn’t have. But Milwaukee has dug in and found ways to win when it matters. Overall, sitting fourth in the East at this stage of the season is good enough for me. With the possibility of a full strength team in the second half of the season, the Bucks could be unstoppable.

    Bring on the next half of the schedule.

    For More Great Wisconsin Sports Content:

    Follow me on Twitter @UK_Bucks and follow us @WiSportsHeroics for more great content! For the latest in Wisconsin sports, click here. 

    Bucks bucks basketball Giannis Giannis Antetokounmpo Jrue Holiday Milwaukee Milwaukee Bucks MVP NBA NBA MVP
    Share. Facebook Twitter Pinterest LinkedIn Tumblr Email
    Sean Foley
    • Twitter
    • Instagram

    Sean runs the UK Bucks fan account from Edinburgh, Scotland.

    Related Posts

    3 Bucks Players With the Biggest Opportunities In 2023

    3 Milwaukee Bucks Players With the Biggest Opportunities Heading Into 2023

    June 2, 2023
    USATSI 18236528 e1685685585473

    Milwaukee Bucks: Boston Celtics Player Demands Trade After Playoff Exit (Trade Target)

    June 2, 2023
    2023 NBA Free Agency: 5 Bucks Most Likely on the Move

    2023 NBA Free Agency: 5 Bucks Most Likely on the Move

    June 1, 2023
    USATSI 20381413 e1685624980207

    2 Western Conference Teams That Could Offer Brook Lopez a New Contract

    June 1, 2023
    Add A Comment

    Leave A Reply Cancel Reply

    TRENDING
    Milwaukee Brewers Jon Singleton Promotion

    Milwaukee Brewers To Promote Slugging 1st Baseman (Report)

    June 2, 2023
    Milwaukee Brewers, George Scott, George Scott III

    Son, Grandson of Milwaukee Brewers Legend Found Dead in Apparent Murder-Suicide

    June 2, 2023
    USATSI 20811828 168400517 lowres

    Milwaukee Brewers: Corbin Burnes Ejected For 1st Time In Career

    June 2, 2023
    Green Bay Packers, Romeo Doubs, Jordan Love, Aaron Rodgers

    Green Bay Packers: Romeo Doubs Compares Jordan Love to Aaron Rodgers

    June 2, 2023
    Green Bay Packers, Greatest Green Bay Packers Players, Daryn Colledge

    100 Days to Green Bay Packers Kickoff: Greatest Player #100- Daryn Colledge

    June 2, 2023
    Green Bay Packers Darrius Shepherd

    Former Green Bay Packers Wide Receiver Signs With AFC Contender (NFL News)

    June 2, 2023
    WI Sports Heroics
    Facebook Twitter RSS
    • Contact Us
    • Advertisement
    • Privacy Policy
    • Store
    © 2023 WISportsHeroics All Rights Reserved.

    Type above and press Enter to search. Press Esc to cancel.