Milwaukee Bucks Midseason Performance Grades: The Big Men
By Kenny Jilek
We’re a little over halfway through the season, and even though it seems like the Milwaukee Bucks have not at all looked like themselves, they are just two games out of first place. It’s important to remember just how good this team is that they’re right in the hunt for the top spot in the East, even with all the players they’ve had out for extended periods of time.
The big man rotation has been pretty thin this season, but the guys that have been playing have been doing enough to keep this team winning more games than they lose while they wait for reinforcements.
This effort was largely helped by Demarcus Cousins, who I won’t be grading because he’s no longer on the team. He was lackluster on defense, but was a good stop-gap for a portion of the season to account for injuries.
We’ll be splitting the five big men currently on the roster into three groups: Giannis (yes, he’s his own group no one is like him), centers, and power forwards.
Milwaukee Bucks Star: Giannis Antetokounmpo
What’s to be written about the Greek Freak that hasn’t already been said? Well, this year, he’s leading the league in 4th quarter points per game and free throw attempts and makes. Just this month, he’s had two phenomenal performances from the line, going 18-20 against Charlotte and 17-17 against Toronto.
The three-point shooting still isn’t there at just 28.2 percent, but he’s still managed to score 28.5 points in just 32.6 minutes per game. His biggest improvement in shooting from last year to this one is in the midrange. On shots 10-16 feet from the hoop, he’s gone from 35.9 percent to 40.2, and on 16 feet to the three-point line, he’s upped it from 32.4 percent to 38.9.
The midrange game has always been what’s been the key to making him a next-level superstar, and that’s what he did well in his two MVP seasons, so seeing him hit those at a rate that’s back up closer to those years is a great sign.
His 6.1 assists per game are also a career-high, and his no-look sidearm whip pass is becoming less and less rare, but continues to be breathtaking each time as he nails his target perfectly.
He’s not satisfied with just one championship, and he never will be. That’s not how his motor runs. He exudes greatness and wants to be counted among the all-time greats of this game when he’s done. He’s well on his way, and this season, he continues to evolve.
Overall Season Grade: A