Giannis Antetokounmpo has spent the higher a part of this season holding down the fort in Milwaukee, with Khris Middleton out and in of the lineup. Out of sheer necessity, Antetokounmpo is main the league in utilization price (38.7%), a quantity even larger than that of Luka Dončić, and his uncooked numbers are frankly absurd because of it.

32.1 factors, 11.8 rebounds, 5.2 assists, and 13 free throw makes an attempt per recreation for the previous two-time MVP. These are online game numbers, and characterize the extent of Antetokounmpo’s expertise and influence to the Bucks.

However, there’s substantial threat related to that utilization.

The Bucks are unquestionably trying on the championship trophy as their aim of the season, and rightly so. They took the Boston Celtics to seven video games final season with out Middleton, and sure would have returned to the Finals had he not gotten injured of their first-round sequence in opposition to the Bulls.

Now, the hope is Middleton makes it again in time to have the ability to ramp up over the course of the common season, after which getting into the postseason absolutely wholesome and in rhythm.

However till then, it is essential the Bucks discover a option to reduce the burden of Antetokounmpo, as to attenuate harm threat. It would be nothing in need of catastrophic if he have been to overlook a big chunk of time, and it might be a good harder tablet to swallow if the trigger was overuse.

So, the place ought to the Bucks look?

They’re already getting stable manufacturing out of each Jrue Vacation and Brook Lopez, to the purpose the place you would argue that neither can actually add rather more than what they at the moment are.

As an alternative, head coach Mike Budenholzer ought to look to get Bobby Portis extra concerned.

The 6’10 ahead performed simply over 25 minutes per recreation in December, and may have contemporary sufficient legs to justify a minutes bump, because the Bucks enter 2023.

Greater than that, Portis also needs to have extra pictures funneled his method. He converts at over 68% of his pictures close to the basket, has been very efficient when taking lengthy two-pointers, and whereas he is solely hitting 31.7% from exterior this season, he hit 41.8% from three-point vary over the 2 seasons prior. So there’s benefit in the concept that his three-point shot will come round.

(Portis is coming off back-to-back 20/10 video games the place he is canned 50% of his 12 whole three-point pictures.)

This is not to say Portis needs to be given 20+ pictures per recreation, or something of the type. At present at round 12 shot makes an attempt per night time, any improve must be practical. And admittedly, it wants to return organically. Maybe the Bucks strategy ought to focus on a rise in touches versus pictures, solely to take extra strain off Antetokounmpo when he is on the market.

Portis has been working as a play finisher since his faculty days at Arkansas, and is used to having the ball in his palms each inside and outside. That offers him the flexibleness to dictate outcomes a good bit, as defenders must defend him from the three-point line.

Portis may provoke extra hand-off actions, name his personal quantity, or search smaller opponents to make a meal of within the publish.

Moreover, a rise in Portis touches will permit Antetokounmpo to free-roam extra, which will likely be simpler on his physique in the long term. The extra consideration that goes to Portis, the extra Antetokounmpo can lower, and play off the ball.

Portis needs to be taking part in half-hour an evening with Middleton out, even when it would pressure the teaching employees to be a bit inventive of their rotation patterns. In any case, Antetokounmpo and Lopez take up a great chunk of the inside minutes.

Maybe, then, scaling again on Antetokounmpo’s minutes as a part of lessening his burden is a good trade-off whereas Middleton is out. It would not be the primary time. Again within the 2019-2020 season, Antetokounmpo performed simply 30.4 minutes per night time.

This yr, although, he is taking part in essentially the most minutes (33.7), and taking essentially the most pictures (21.5) whereas taking part in for Budenholzer, and you need to surprise if that is the fitting name when their aspirations are so excessive.

Budenholzer has all the time put an emphasis on not operating his gamers into the bottom, and in equity to him, Antetokounmpo is kind of doing that on his personal accord. That is why he’ll quickly must step in and consider whether or not his celebrity wants a break.

With Portis in hand, and completely able to dealing with extra minutes, it would not be the worst concept on the earth to tinker with the lineup.

Except famous in any other case, all stats by way of NBA.com, PBPStats, Cleansing the Glass or Basketball-Reference. All wage data by way of Spotrac. All odds by way of FanDuel Sportsbook.