Milwaukee, WI

Milwaukee Bucks Offense Is Finding Its Stride

Published

1 year ago

December 24, 2023

Milwaukee Bucks Offense Is Finding Its Stride

NEW YORK, NEW YORK – DECEMBER 23: Damian Lillard #0 of the Milwaukee Bucks reacts during the third … [+] quarter of the game against the New York Knicks at Madison Square Garden on December 23, 2023 in New York City. 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 Dustin Satloff/Getty Images)

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The Milwaukee Bucks have quietly become the offensive juggernaut they threatened to be after trading for Damian Lillard shortly before the season began.

It’s been a tumultuous start for the Bucks, as they’ve battled through their lead assistant coach resigning, an overmatched defense, and new players that didn’t immediately assimilate to their full offensive potential. However, it’s safe to say they’ve hit their offensive stride.

Milwaukee has the NBA’s third-best offense, scoring 120.4 points per 100 possessions. However, that number jumped to 125.9 over their past 10 games with their effective field goal percentage hitting a whopping 59.8 percent. Both of those would be NBA records if they held across an entire season. They also lead the league with 12 130-point games, all coming within their last 18 contests.

Still, it seems like they have another gear to hit.

Over these last 10 games, Milwaukee has employed a balanced scoring attack led by Giannis Antetokounmpo and Lillard. Antetokounmpo puts immense pressure on the rim, relentlessly attacking his defender off the bounce and not bailing them out with threes—he’s only taking 1.4 threes per game during this stretch, the second-lowest rate of his career.

He’s taken 323 shots within four feet of the hoop. That’s 90 more than the second-placed Zion Williamson or the same difference between Zion and Kyle Kuzma, who has taken the 25th most shots around the bucket.

The Lillard-Antetokounmpo pick-and-roll hasn’t materialized quite yet, but both guys are dangerous in their own rights. Lillard has found his preferred partner in Brook Lopez, as the duo has been extremely dangerous working together.

Lillard’s three-point stroke has also come around. After his annual slow start to the season, he’s knocking down over 46 percent of his nearly nine three-point attempts per game in the Bucks’ last 10. He’s also leveraging the threat of his outside shot to get downhill to attack the basket, often drawing trips to the free throw line as a result.

What’s helped Antetokounmpo and Lillard click is the balanced attack around them. Defenses are struggling to figure out who to send help from when Malik Beasley, Khris Middleton and Lopez surround the Bucks’ dangerous duo.

Beasley is making a career high 45.7 percent of his threes. It’s not just the accuracy, either, it’s the speed of his release. He can get his shot off in the tightest of spaces, ensuring his man hugs him as he spaces to the corners.

Lopez hasn’t experienced the same success with his shot, but he’s a massive human being who demands attention on his slow rolls and ability to create space for his teammates. Despite his slump, he still pulls his man away from the basket, creating driving lanes and space for his teammates to operate in.

Middleton is the final piece to the Bucks’ puzzle. Once cast in the Lillard role as Milwaukee’s 1B to Antetokounmpo’s 1A, he’s now in the clear role as their third scorer. He shares most of his minutes alongside one of the Bucks’ stars, with the exception of short stints in the second and fourth quarters.

After battling injuries over the last year-plus, he’s finally coming around. Over his last 10 games, he’s averaging 16 points, 5.9 rebounds and 4.6 assists per game while shooting 50 percent from the field and 42 percent from the three-point line. It’s no coincidence the Bucks’ offensive surge coincides with his rebirth.

The Bucks’ second unit still has question marks, but super-sub Bobby Portis has found his stroke over the last couple of weeks. He’s the only proven scorer coming off Milwaukee’s bench and they need him to consistently get buckets. His ability to score from all three levels is a great complement to the rest of Milwaukee’s offensively-minded players.

Milwaukee is cooking right now, but they still have another level (or two) to hit. They have yet to solve the Lillard-Antetokounmpo (or the Antetokounmpo-Lillard) pick-and-rolls. That should unlock their offense even further.

Just a few months in and Milwaukee is already showing why they moved all their chips into the middle of the table for an elite offense. With more work to be done, this could just be the start of something special for what could be a historical unit.

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Milwaukee, WI

NBA Live Discussion: Brooklyn Nets at Milwaukee Bucks, 8:00 p.m. ET

Published

42 minutes ago

January 3, 2025

Press Room

NBA Live Discussion: Brooklyn Nets at Milwaukee Bucks, 8:00 p.m. ET

Right back to it. The Nets face off against the Milwaukee Bucks yet again, only this time they’ll be healthier than the last time these two played. The Nets suffered a 17-point loss to the lowly Raptors on Wednesday, thus it’s a second night of a back-to-back. Not to mention, it’s the final game on the New Years road trip. It’s difficult imagining these guys will be at full force with circumstances like that. We know how they work at this rate, specifically with players like Ben Simmons and even Cam Thomas.

For the tank commanders, the Nets are ranked No. 7 at 12-21. Still a little ways to go before they reach the bottom-three.

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0-1 in 2025!

Time: 8:00 p.m. ET

Opponent: Milwaukee Bucks (17-14)

Tune In: YES Network | WFAN Radio

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Game Preview | Brian Fleurantin

Injuries: No Bojan Bogdanovic, Trendon Watford, or Ziaire Williams. Cam Thomas missed yesterday’s game as part of injury management, but is expected back tonight. Ben Simmons played yesterday, so chances are he’ll miss this one. Noah Clowney took a hard fall last night and had to exit the game. We’ll see how he is today. The worst news, however, may be Maxwell Lewis. He left last night’s game with a knee injury. He will be undergoing an MRI sometime today and the team will be releasing an update. Hoping for the best.
BUCKS: Giannis Antetokounmpo (right patella tendinopathy) and Khris Middleton (recovery from ankle surgery) are both probable.
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The Game: He [DLo] gives the Nets another player who can get their own shot on offense, and that can help keep them close on nights they can’t make anything shake in transition. It will also be fun to see how he and Cam Thomas work as a backcourt tandem. CT is building himself back up from an extended injury absence, so managing his minutes and workload will be a fun subplot to the next week of Nets basketball.

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Please be respectful with your comments. NetsDaily prides itself on being a safe space for Nets and basketball fans alike to have healthy conversation. Reach out to Anthony Puccio or Net Income with any issues.

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Milwaukee, WI

Milwaukee shooting: 14-year-old boy dead, man charged

Published

9 hours ago

January 2, 2025

Press Room

Milwaukee shooting: 14-year-old boy dead, man charged

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MILWAUKEE – A Milwaukee man is criminally charged in a shooting that killed a 14-year-old boy on Saturday, Dec. 28.

Prosecutors said 19-year-old Rahshad Bates told police he was handling a gun when it went off, and he “accidentally shot his friend” while they

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The shooting happened near 21st and Concordia. Officers were called to the scene around 9:15 p.m.

A criminal complaint states a group of people was with the 14-year-old victim, and they flagged down officers when they arrived at the scene. Bates was with the group and was seen “pacing around inside, looking out the windows” of a home after first responders began tending to the victim.

Shooting at 21st and Concordia, Milwaukee

The medical examiner’s office said the victim, Bryant Triplett, died at a hospital.

Bates spoke to police at the scene. He said he and the victim were walking dogs in the alley when “some unknown person shot a gun at them for unknown reasons,” per the complaint. Later, Bates told a detective the same story – but eventually admitted he had a gun and “accidentally shot his friend.”

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Specifically, court filings said Bates had the gun tucked under his armpit and started to empty the gun. He had his finger on the trigger when he pulled the slide back, and the gun accidentally went off. He then, with help, carried the victim back to the house. He said he tossed the gun, but the weapon was not found.

In court

Bates is charged with one felony count: homicide by negligent handling of a dangerous weapon. Court records show Bates’ bond was set at $2,500.

Crime and Public SafetyNewsMilwaukee

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Will Khris Middleton play against the Brooklyn Nets tonight? Latest update on the Milwaukee Bucks star's injury report (January 2, 2025) | NBA News – Times of India

Published

16 hours ago

January 2, 2025

Press Room

Milwaukee Bucks’ Khris Middleton tries to get past Brooklyn Nets’ Shake Milton during the second half of an NBA basketball game Thursday, Dec. 26, 2024, in Milwaukee. (AP Photo/Morry Gash)

Khris Middleton of the Milwaukee Bucks is listed as “questionable” for tonight’s game against the Brooklyn Nets at the Fiserv Forum on Thursday, January 2. The start time for this game is 8 p.m. ET. The Bucks, who have a 17-14 record and are presently sixth in the Eastern Conference, will be looking to gain momentum after defeating the Indiana Pacers 120–112 recently.
Khris Middleton will have to be with Giannis, who returned to the court on Tuesday after missing three games since all eyes will be on him. With an outstanding stat line of 30 points, 12 rebounds, 5 assists, and 2 steals against the Pacers, the Greek superstar showed no symptoms of rust. Despite being categorised as “probable” with right patella tendinopathy, Antetokounmpo is anticipated to play Thursday’s game against the Nets.
After undergoing bilateral ankle surgery, veteran forward Khris Middleton is still working his way back to full fitness. Khris is likewise labelled as “probable” for Thursday’s game, much like Giannis Antetokounmpo. In Tuesday’s victory, Middleton played a season-high 31 minutes, making his sixth straight appearance and showing consistent improvement in his recuperation.

Milwaukee Bucks’ Khris Middleton tries to get past Brooklyn Nets’ Jalen Wilson during the second half of an NBA basketball game Thursday, Dec. 26, 2024, in Milwaukee. (AP Photo/Morry Gash)

The Milwaukee Bucks’ medical staff will also monitor AJ Green, who is questionable with a lumbar contusion. Several players remain unavailable due to G-League assignments, including Johnson, Livingston, Robbins, and Smith.
With a day off, Milwaukee comes into the game with a significant edge over the Nets, who must contend with playing on the second night of a back-to-back. Given that both clubs are vying for spots in the difficult Eastern Conference, this scheduling discrepancy may prove to be significant.
The Bucks have a significant chance to use their home-court advantage and maybe raise their conference ranking in this game. Given Giannis’ improved durability and Khris Middleton’s likely return to the starting lineup, Milwaukee looks ready to expand on their recent success.
Before tipoff, spectators are urged to check their local listings and preferred streaming providers for game updates and the most recent information.
Also read: Top 30 most valuable NBA teams of 2024

When and where to watch Khris Middleton play tonight against the Brooklyn Nets?

With a variety of broadcast sources, fans may watch the action. Out-of-market fans may watch the game on NBA League Pass or Fubo TV, while local viewers can tune in to FDSWI or YES.

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