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Milwaukee Bucks sharpshooter Damian Lillard feeling comfortable firing 3-point shots from anywhere

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Milwaukee Bucks sharpshooter Damian Lillard feeling comfortable firing 3-point shots from anywhere


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Are we still debating the Milwaukee flag thing?

Here’s an idea: Use Damian Lillard’s three-pointers-made shot chart. It looks like a brilliant sunrise emerging from Lake Michigan, especially with the longest streaks filling up the horizon – marking Lillard’s ridiculously long-distance three-point makes from every part of the arc.

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It’s a thing of beauty for sure, even if Milwaukee Bucks coach Doc Rivers doesn’t want to look at it.

“I don’t want to − too scary,” Rivers said.

While Lillard’s three-point shooting has ticked downward a bit since he arrived in Milwaukee a season and a half ago, the newest member of the NBA’s 22,000-points-scored club is such a threat from anywhere beyond the three-point line that it becomes a game within the game to see how far back he’ll line up and shoot.

It’s a more naturally looking shot now, too, after he just needed some time to get more comfortable with Milwaukee’s offensive structure and personnel.

In Lillard’s final four seasons in Portland, from 2019-23, he averaged 10.2, 10.5, 9.8 and 11.3 three-point attempts per game – all among the highest averages for his career.

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But when he first got to Milwaukee, that average dipped to 8.5 last season.

Lillard was acquired by the Bucks in part for his three-point marksmanship but an adjustment period was needed. Not only was Lillard trying to fit in with the guards and forwards, and take over at point, it’s good to remember that Lillard joined a team with three bigs – Brook Lopez, Bobby Portis and Giannis Antetokounmpo – who consistently shot threes. Lopez is among the best-shooting big men all-time in the NBA – ninth overall with 1,014.

This season, Lillard is taking more threes, and making 3.5 of 8.9 attempts on average. He’s ranked 12th in the NBA in made threes.

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Antetokounmpo has attempted only 26 three-pointers all year and in some games has appeared to abandon the shot altogether in favor of his newly minted mid-range shot, which has been effective.

Meanwhile, recovering from double ankle surgery and coming off the bench, Khris Middleton’s three-point numbers are also significantly down.

The Bucks want the three-point shot to remain a proficient way of scoring and there’s no doubt that it’s Lillard’s shot to take freely. Rivers said that he asks nothing of Lillard when it comes to where he can fire from long range, whether it’s a 24-, 26- or 28-footer and beyond.

“Him and Brook − I think they’re having a competition working: who can make the furthest three?” Rivers said. “They both shoot them easy, but Dame’s range … when you think about his size and how deep he can shoot, and it’s easy for him − it’s pretty amazing.”

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Lillard kind of makes a face ‘are you serious’ when asked: He doesn’t study the analytics or the shot chart. He’s been known for his three-pointers his whole career. The analytics are for us. For the 6-foot-2 veteran, it’s all about reading the defense before him.

“I take them because I can make them and it forces the defense to play from further out,” Lillard said. “And I have more space to attack downhill, just because I know I can make that shot. So that’s it. I don’t look at like, you said, the shot chart of where I’m shooting at.”

The three-point line is 22 feet away from the corners and stretches out to 23 feet, 9 inches at the arc, and Lillard has taken 248 shots − by far his most − from 25 to 29 feet this year. He’s made 98.

“I think it’s just cleaner looks. It’s not as good of a contest, it’s not as much of a crowd so deep,” Lillard said. “That probably has something to do with it, just a more comfortable shot because of the lack of pressure and contest.”

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Either way, it’s up to him, where to line up and shoot; Rivers said he extends the same freedom to Lillard on the three that he does to Antetokounmpo for the mid-range.

“I have none, Dame, Giannis,” Rivers said. “You know, I keep saying it, that’s the restrictions. When you give them freedom, you know they have to restrict themselves on and take shots that they think they can make. And when they don’t, they actually know it. They’ll glance over at me every once in a while. I just smile back.”



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Milwaukee, WI

Truck drives in to Grace Coffee in Milwaukee’s Historic Third Ward overnight

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Truck drives in to Grace Coffee in Milwaukee’s Historic Third Ward overnight


MILWAUKEE — A truck drove through the Grace Coffee Co. in Milwaukee’s Historic Third Ward on early Friday morning, the owners announced in a social media post.

Due to the extensive damage that was done, the coffee shop will be closed until further notice.

TMJ4

“We’re incredibly grateful no one was hurt, and we’ll keep you updated as we begin repairs,” the coffee shop said in the post.

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TMJ4 reached out to the Milwaukee Police Department but have yet to hear back.


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MPS layoffs plan draws pushback as district works to close $46M gap

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MPS layoffs plan draws pushback as district works to close M gap


Milwaukee Public Schools is planning to cut roughly 200 positions next school year as the district works to close a multi-million-dollar budget gap — but there’s disagreement over which roles will be impacted.

What we know:

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District leaders say the goal is to close a roughly $46 million shortfall, prompting changes that Superintendent Brenda Cassellius says are necessary.

Milwaukee Public Schools said about 201 staff members will be impacted. District leaders say no classroom teachers, counselors or social workers will be cut — something the teachers’ union disputes.

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The reductions stem from a previously approved plan to eliminate about 260 non-classroom roles. The final number dropped after retirements and existing vacancies. The Milwaukee Board of School Directors approved that plan on March 9.

What they’re saying:

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“We have a $50 million deficit, we are for sure not going to be able to do business the same way that we’ve been able to do business,” Cassellius said. “Change is just hard. It’s just hard. And every single one of our employees is so important.”

But some educators say the cuts go too far.

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“MTEA is setting up a distress signal. We are talking about our teachers, art teachers, music teachers, physical education teachers, counselors — things that the voters of referendum of Milwaukee actually voted for,” said Ingrid Walker-Henry, president of the Milwaukee Teachers’ Education Association. “Staffing is being cut to the extent that they are concerned about student safety.”

Cassellius acknowledged the uncertainty and asked school leaders for patience.

“We just have to for sure know our budget situation, where we’re at with that after these cuts are made in order to make those decisions,” she said. “So I’m asking my principals, be patient with us.”

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By the numbers:

The district outlined the 201 affected positions as:

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  • 70 central office roles
  • 62 educators with a teaching license but not assigned to one classroom
  • 59 assistant principals

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MPS says the savings will support new class size guidelines, including:

  • 18 students per teacher in K3
  • 20 students per teacher in K4
  • 22 students per teacher in K5

Milwaukee Public Schools (MPS)

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District leaders say no students will be asked to leave a school to meet class size guidelines. Officials say they are working with schools that may not have space or that require larger classes based on specific programs.

What’s next:

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Milwaukee Public Schools plans to present its proposed 2026–27 budget to the Milwaukee Board of School Directors in May.

The Source: Information in this post was provided by Milwaukee Public Schools and prior FOX6 coverage.

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Milwaukee, WI

Brewers finally announce cable, satellite TV channels for broadcasts

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Brewers finally announce cable, satellite TV channels for broadcasts


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Just before the pitch clock hits zero, the Milwaukee Brewers released a rundown of channels on cable and satellite for game broadcasts, mere hours before the 1:10 p.m. CT first pitch on Opening Day, Thursday, March 26.

The club said channels include 1263 on XFinity, 670 on DirecTV, 1743 on U-Verse, and 319 or 469 on Spectrum. The broadcasts are also listed as available on streaming service Fubo.

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The Brewers are pointing fans to a channel-finding tool on their web site at Brewers.com/watch, though in the moments after the announcement, the channel finder was not yet locating details for Spectrum customers for Milwaukee-area zip codes. A club spokesperson said Major League Baseball was aware of the error and the games would indeed air on Spectrum in Milwaukee.

The built-in Spectrum guide still showed Channel 308 as the “BREW” offering in Milwaukee, with Brewers Live Pregame scheduled to begin at noon CT and baseball at 1 p.m. March 26.

With the February announcement of a switchover from FanDuel Sports Wisconsin to Major League Baseball productions in 2026, MLB negotiations have gone down to the wire with the various providers around Wisconsin. Several teams covered by Main Street Sports, which operated the FanDuel brand, have been in a similar boat this offseason.

Brewers fans aren’t alone in experiencing the late-arriving channel information. Maury Brown of Forbes has been keeping track of all the late-arriving channel announcements for teams around baseball, specifically those that were covered by the Main Street Sports. As of 7 a.m. March 26, the Royals, Rays, Tigers and Braves also still hadn’t released channel listings.

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Streaming customers who used the FanDuel Sports Wisconsin app in previous years can use the new Brewers.TV option to once again watch games. The opener is also one of 10 games simulcast on over-the-air channels this season, including WITI-TV (Channel 6) in Milwaukee.



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