National Basketball Association

Milwaukee Bucks Face A Tough Season Without Khris Middleton

Published Jun. 30, 2017 6:28 p.m. ET

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With Khris Middleton out for most of the season, don’t expect the Milwaukee Bucks to make a big splash in 2015-16.

Expectations for the Milwaukee Bucks were relatively high just a few short weeks ago.

Though they were coming off a disappointing season, many expected the Bucks, on the backs of their big three of Giannis Antetokounmpo, Khris Middleton and Jabari Parker, to take a big step forward in the upcoming season.

Things, however, took a turn for the worst. Before a single shot was taken, the Bucks lost one of the core three players (Middleton) for almost the entirety of the season to a torn hamstring.

It was a devastating loss, and it’s effect cannot be understated. The Bucks face a very difficult season without their steady hand.

Though Antetokounmpo and Parker got most of the plaudits at the end of the season, it was Middleton who was the most consistent contributor on both ends of the floor throughout the entire season.

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First, Middleton was the key to getting the Bucks offense to work efficiently last season. With Antetokounmpo working as the floor general, the team needed to surround him with guys who could stretch the floor and shoot. Middleton was the key to this.

In 79 games last year, Middleton shot a solid 39.6 percent from three-point range on 4.6 attempts per game. Though his percentages were down from his breakout year the season before (40.7 percent), he still provided the Bucks with a consistent knock-down shooter whom defenses needed to respect. This opened up the floor, allowing Antetokounmpo and Parker to drive without having the entire defense collapse onto them.

Middleton also showed flashes of an effective fade-away jumper from the mid-range. This gave the Bucks a go-to guy late in the shot clock who could create his own shot. Thus, Middleton became the go-to scorer on the team, someone they could rely upon when all else failed.

Outside of the first and last months of the season, Middleton averaged at least 18 points per game in every month. Though this did not surpass the highs that Antetokounmpo and Parker posted in the final three months, it’s still a very impressive total and indicative of the type of load Middleton was asked to carry for most of the season.

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Middleton also provided the Bucks with a very effective secondary ball-handler who could create shots for others. Though Antetokounmpo took over as the primary handler, Middleton shared much of the secondary ball-handling duties, especially after the Bucks benched Michael Carter-Williams.

Middleton was relatively effective in this role, averaging 4.2 assists to 2.3 turnovers per game. He may not have provided assists to the extent of a James Harden, but his ability to make key passes was a valuable asset, especially when he would draw double teams.

Middleton also provided the Bucks with their most consistent performances on defense. Even though the team struggled to defend collectively at times, Middleton provided the Bucks with a reservation and understanding that many others lacked. Thus, it’s no coincidence that Middleton provided the highest defensive real plus-minus of any starter on the Bucks (.63).

He was also the team’s best individual performer in one-on-one situations, giving some of the league’s best major problems. He may have conceded some big games, as any defender does. However, he was far and away the Bucks best and most reliable defender, especially in late game situations.

Another underrated aspect of Middleton’s contributions was his leadership.

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Though he’s not the most vocal person on the floor, Middleton’s experience and understanding of the game provided his teammates with a role model. Even when things got tough, Middleton always kept his head up and gave his all.

Playing without Middleton this season will prove difficult. As shown, Middleton was in many ways the team’s most consistent contributor.

Without his contributions, the Bucks will need to hope that the work that Antetokounmpo and Parker put in this off-season pays off and that their new acquisitions pick up much of the workload.

The Bucks do have an abundance of assets. Thus, if they find the right deal, they may be able to replace some of the value lost by Middleton’s injury.

However, the reality is the Bucks will struggle to take a significant step forward this coming season without their steady hand.

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