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Milwaukee Bucks: Bold Predictions for the Starting Five

By Trevor Bender

MILWAUKEE, WISCONSIN - MARCH 04: (EDITOR'S NOTE: Alternate crop) Giannis Antetokounmpo #34 of the Milwaukee Bucks dunks against the Indiana Pacers during the second half of a game at Fiserv Forum on March 04, 2020 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. 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 Stacy Revere/Getty Images)
MILWAUKEE, WISCONSIN - MARCH 04: (EDITOR'S NOTE: Alternate crop) Giannis Antetokounmpo #34 of the Milwaukee Bucks dunks against the Indiana Pacers during the second half of a game at Fiserv Forum on March 04, 2020 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. 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 Stacy Revere/Getty Images) /
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Milwaukee Bucks
LAKE BUENA VISTA, FLORIDA – SEPTEMBER 02: Khris Middleton #22 of the Milwaukee Bucks drives to the basket during the third quarter against the Miami Heat in Game Two of the Eastern Conference Second Round during the 2020 NBA Playoffs at the Field House at ESPN Wide World Of Sports Complex on September 02, 2020 in Lake Buena Vista, Florida. 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 Mike Ehrmann/Getty Images) /

Khris Middleton

Khris Middleton is an interesting player to pick a bold prediction for. For DiVincenzo and Holiday, I talked about increasing efficiency for both of those players. It is hard to talk about increasing efficiency for Middleton as he had his most efficient year as a professional during the 2019-2020 season. In fact, he was just 0.3 percent shy in his field goal percentage from becoming the ninth player in history and the second Milwaukee Buck in as many seasons to join the elite 50-40-90 club.

In my eyes, we have seen what Middleton is on the offensive side of the ball, which is averaging 45 or more percent from the field, around 40 percent from three, and over 85 percent from the free-throw line. I also expect him to be in the 20 points per game range again like he has been for the last three seasons. I do think with adding another weapon on the offense, in Holiday, I do think that his point per game may drop slightly, but he will still be a good and effective player for the Milwaukee Bucks.

With having some help on the offensive end of the court, I think that Middleton can focus some more of his energy on the defensive end, which I think has been lacking for him in recent years. Middleton used to have the toughest matchups defensively on most nights until he became the number two option for the Bucks offensively. I think we are going to see a more focused effort defensively from Middleton during the 2020-2021 NBA season.

Prediction: Khris Middleton will be on the NBA’s all-defensive second team for the first time in his career. 

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