NFL
By: Mark T. Wilson
The Milwaukee Bucks have a championship roster, but without the high-level play of Khris Middleton, there will be no more rings. Where has his game gone?
Maybe we can point to the injuries but to say that he has not been given the opportunity is unfair. Last season, Middleton suited up for just 33 games and started just 19. And now, with the inclusion of Damian Lillard into the lineup, Middleton doesn’t even fit into the 3rd option role. That has fallen to Malik Beasley. Middleton is now a decoy on the floor.
In the early stages of this campaign, Middleton is averaging just 14.3 points per game on 11.5 shots attempts. For the Milwaukee Bucks to keep rolling, they will need Middleton to return to his 2019 form. So far, his play seems distant.
Regarded as one of the best defensive teams in the league for the past 2-3 years the Bucks as a whole have fallen off. Right now, they sit at 23rd in Points Allowed. While the offense is still clicking, it’s not as fluid as it once was. Giannis Antetokounmpo is still causing damage in the post but the finger-pointing will begin with Lillard.
Are The Milwaukee Bucks Saving Middleton
Including Lillard in this lineup for Jrue Holiday was sure to have its bumps along the way. But Middleton was not expected to be the one to take such a dramatic backseat. When the Bucks were running through the Eastern Conference, it was Giannis and Middleton putting in the work. However, something is still off.
He appears to be healthy. His minutes per game are at 24.4 and that is a fraction of where it was last season when he averaged 24.3 minutes. Has Lillard’s performance caused that massive of a disturbance to his game? Losing Holiday could also be a factor but Lillard is sharing the wealth with his 6.9 assists per game.
The Milwaukee Bucks are one of those teams with a serious height advantage but their players are also versatile. Brook Lopez is shooting more and with Beasley also in the starting lineup, that’s more shots from the perimeter. We all knew that some stats would suffer with the green light that Lilard has but Middleton is not even dialed in.
He does have his games where he has shown flashes but they are few and far between. Maybe Adrain Griffin is keeping him fresh for the playoffs. Whatever the case may be, the Milwaukee Bucks will not win another ring if Khris Middleton doesn’t find his game.
