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Milwaukee Bucks: 3 ways to be even better in the second half

By Kenny Jilek

NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA - MARCH 12: Giannis Antetokounmpo #34 of the Milwaukee Bucks shoots a free throw during the first half of a NBA game against the New Orleans Pelicans at the Smoothie King Center on March 12, 2019 in New Orleans, Louisiana. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Sean Gardner/Getty Images)
NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA - MARCH 12: Giannis Antetokounmpo #34 of the Milwaukee Bucks shoots a free throw during the first half of a NBA game against the New Orleans Pelicans at the Smoothie King Center on March 12, 2019 in New Orleans, Louisiana. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Sean Gardner/Getty Images) /
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Milwaukee Bucks
Giannis Antetokounmpo, Milwaukee Bucks (Photo by Aurelien Meunier/Getty Images) /

Free Throw Shooting

The Milwaukee Bucks are having no trouble getting to the line this season, ranking sixth in the league in free throw attempts at 24.5 per game. This is largely due to Giannis Antetokounmpo and his paint prowess, attempting 10.4 free throws per game. Unfortunately, Giannis is also a big reason why the team percentage is so low.

The Bucks are currently 28th in the league in free throw percentage at 73.5 percent. Antetokounmpo, who is responsible for over half of the team’s attempts, is shooting only 61.4 percent from the line. That is abysmal, but also uncharacteristic. Excluding his rookie season, he has been above 72 percent every year of his career and had back-to-back seasons above 75 percent in 2016-17 and ’17-18.

This sudden drop would point to it being a mental issue. No one just physically loses the ability to shoot from a spot they’ve shot from literally thousands of times. It may have started last season in the Eastern Conference Finals where he shot 58.3 percent from the line, while being heckled by Raptors fans, most prominently Drake, dooming the Bucks’ Finals hopes.

The only two other players that are under the 73.5 mark are Robin Lopez, shooting 53.5 percent, and Pat Connaughton at 72 percent. Everyone else is at a minimum of 77 percent. Guys like Khris Middleton and Kyle Korver are doing well to bring the average up, Middleton above 90 percent and Korver at 83.6.

If Giannis fixes his problems at the line, teams will not be able to just wrap him up and foul when he gets into the lane. This is not as much of an issue in the regular season, but when defenses tighten up in the playoffs, he needs to be able to knock down a respectable amount of free throws or we’ll see a repeat of last year’s Eastern Conference Finals.

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