Bucks Film Room Notebook: 5 Insights from 2023 Preseason

After going 1-12 in their last three preseason, the Milwaukee Bucks finally finished this exhibition season with a winning record at 3-2. And that’s all that matters.

In all seriousness, this preseason brought a glimpse of the new-look Bucks, as Damian Lillard and Giannis Antetokounmpo graced the court for three games, later joined by Khris Middleton for the preseason finale against the Memphis Grizzlies that featured their entire roster not named Bobby Portis.

That gave us our first look at what this team could become. Using that knowledge, let’s dive into five key insights we learned from the Bucks this preseason.

Sidenote: I’m launching a podcast on Monday, October 23rd called “Bucks Film Room Podcast” everywhere podcasts are available. I’ll be attaching a link in an article on Dairyland Express when it’s released. Make sure to check it out!

Here are five key insights from the Milwaukee Bucks 2023 preseason including their three-point shooting, Damian Lillard, Giannis Antetokounmpo and more.

Bucks Three-Point Shooting

• Milwaukee only made 32.2 percent of their threes, ranking 23rd among all NBA teams during their preseason.
• Pat Connaughton continued his slump from a season ago, as he only knocked down nine of his 29 attempts from deep (31 percent).
• Jae Crowder (6-20, 30 percent), Damian Lillard (4-21, 19 percent), and Cameron Payne (2-12, 16.7 percent) were the other primary offenders.
• Although Connaughton’s shooting is concerning, we shouldn’t be too worried about Lillard. He tends to start out slow during the preseason and admitted he wasn’t playing five-on-five basketball under training camp began.
• On the other side of the coin, was AJ Green (8-12, 66.7 percent), MarJon Beauchamp (8-18, 44.4 percent), Malik Beasley (17-41, 41.5 percent) and Brook Lopez (6-16, 37.5 percent).
• Green can shoot, man.

Bucks Have Something in Andre Jackson Jr.

• I’m not sure what it is, but the Bucks have something in Andre Jackson Jr.
• His passing vision and unselfishness is the first attribute that jumps out.
• He has a great understanding of the court and where his teammates are.
• His non-shooting will be a major issue for him.
• How can the Bucks use him? He has potential positional versatility.
• A lineup with Lillard, Green, Jackson Jr., Middleton, and Lopez would be equal parts exciting and maddening.

Adjustment Period

• The NBA world was shocked on Thursday when Adrian Wojnarowski announced Bucks’ assistant coach Terry Stotts was resigning.
• Stotts told Adrian Griffin and the players on Wednesday night.
• Stotts was responsible for overseeing the offense.
• How will the Bucks adjust one week before the season begins?
• We are already seeing some rust from the players and the kinks being worked out. It could take more time now.

Damian Lillard Attacking the Hoop

• Nobody will confuse Lillard with Antetokounmpo, but that doesn’t mean the former has any issues getting to the rim.
• Lillard leverages his elite three-point shooting to routinely blow by defenders and finish at the hoop.
• He’s had several and-ones already this preseason.
• According to Cleaning the Glass, he typically gets between 30-34 percent of his shot attempts within four feet of the hoop. That ranks above average for point guards.
• He finished a career-high 63 percent of those attempts last season.

Giannis Antetokounmpo is “Rusty”

• Giannis said he was only cleared to sprint about three weeks ago.
• He admitted to being rusty as a result.

• If that’s rusty, he’s in a great spot heading into the season. He averaged 20 points in just 22 minutes per game, shooting 67.5 percent.
• He looks primed for a monster season, especially when him and Dame figure this thing out.