Pat Connaughton was a vital piece for the Bucks during their championship run. Losing him at the beginning of the season was a significant loss, but the Bucks were able to start strong without him. Once he came back, he struggled mightily. He averaged 6.7 points and 3.6 rebounds on 34-30-65 efficiency through his first 19 games. That did not bode well for the Bucks and their chance at another run.
New Year, New Pat
A rough start dampened the hopes of Bucks fans getting the real Playoff P back. Thankfully, the new year came around, and with that, a brand new Pat Connaughton. Since the start of the new year (15 games), Pat has been averaging 10.9 points and 6.2 rebounds. He is shooting 44.3% from the field and 41.7% from beyond the arc.
This is the perfect time for Pat to find his stride because Bobby will be out for an extended period of time, making Pat the go-to 6th man and occasional starter. He has thrived in this position. His game against the Pelicans was his 11th straight game making multiple 3-point shots. Throughout those 11 games, he is shooting 43.2% from 3PT range.
Overall this season, Connaughton is averaging 8.6 points and 4.7 rebounds per game. He is shooting 38.9% from the field and 35.8% from beyond the arc. Getting Pat back (and possibly better) to 100% is critical to a successful season.
The Future for Pat
As of the New Year, Pat is averaging career highs in 3PT percentage, rebounds, and points. With as rough a start as he had, his full-year averages may not break any career records, but it’s not about how you started, but how you finish. If Connaughton keeps this pace up, he will fully earn the new contract extension he signed over the summer.
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