3 Bucks Who Need to Step Up Their Game in Playoffs

With the NBA playoffs right around the corner, these three Milwaukee Bucks must pick up their game heading into the postseason.

With just one meaningless seeding game remaining for the Milwaukee Bucks, it’s safe to say they’ve fully turned their attention to the Orlando Magic, their first-round opponent in the playoffs.

On paper, the Bucks have all the tools necessary to overwhelm Orlando and make this a short series, however, they should do their work first without resting on their laurels. Milwaukee has much bigger goals than advancing to the second round–which, once, would’ve been a huge accomplishment.

It’s been a weird world inside the bubble and we’ve seen it affect everyone differently. On the court, there are a few Bucks who need to pick up their level of play if the team wants to achieve its ultimate goal of an NBA Championship. Here are three players who need to step up.

3. George Hill

Shooting 50 percent from downtown was never going to last for George Hill, but is 40 percent so much to ask for??? Maybe it is. Since the NBA returned, Hill has continued the three-point shooting slump he was in before play was suspended and has made just 8 of his 24 threes (33.3 percent), bringing his season percentage all the way down to 46 percent. What kind of world is this!?

In all seriousness, the Bucks depend on Hill to be the calm when Eric Bledsoe hits his inevitable storm. Hill doesn’t require the rock in his hands and can play off-ball to provide Giannis Antetokounmpo and Khris Middleton with extra space. He also uses his long arms on defense to defend multiple positions and make life uneasy for ball-handlers. Considering Bledsoe’s postseason woes, Milwaukee needs Hill to be in tip-top form come playoff time.

2. Marvin Williams

Since coming to Milwaukee after getting bought out by Charlotte, Marvin Williams hasn’t shown much. Sure, he might not be actively hurting the team on either end of the floor, but, other than move well for a man his size, he hasn’t really done much.

In 19.4 minutes per game (about the same as he played with the Hornets this season), he’s only averaging 3.9 points and 4.4 rebounds on 41.8 percent shooting from the field including a dismal 28.9 three-point percentage.

The Bucks acquired him to be an upgrade over Ersan Ilyasova at the backup 4 and it’s unclear if he’s actually been one. Someone needs to step up behind Antetokounmpo and it’s best for the Bucks if Williams can be that man considering his skill set.

1. Donte DiVincenzo

Before the seeding games began, Donte DiVincenzo was labeled as a rising star for Milwaukee. At least by Bucks’ fans. Even if he didn’t score a ton, he made all the winning plays such as diving for loose balls, grabbing rebounds and keeping plays alive on the offensive glass as well. He also mixed in just enough outside shooting to go with some slashing on offense to keep him interesting to defenses.

Unfortunately, he’s lost all his mojo since play returned and it’s clearly affecting him on the court. He doesn’t appear to have the spunk he once had, as his offensive game has disappeared from him. Hopefully, he continues to stay engaged on defense–another area where he can be extremely impactful.

When he’s on top of his game, he can be the key to a Bucks’ championship. However, he’s far from that right now and he’ll need to work to get his stuff together before it’s too late.