Increased scoring, fewer turnovers keying recent Bucks run
It's no secret that the Milwaukee Bucks are playing better lately. A current four-game winning streak will tell you that.
The upswing has been going on for more than four games, however.
In the Bucks' last 11 games -- since Feb. 11 -- their offense has increased while, perhaps not coincidentally, they've also limited turning the ball over.
Over that span, Milwaukee is averaging 111.5 points per 100 possessions, which ranks fourth in the NBA since Feb. 11. The Bucks' jump-shot percentage is 40.8 percent (4th) while they are averaging just 11.5 turnovers per game (2nd).
One key to the increase in offense is the return of Khris Middleton, who has seen his minutes increase to over 30 per game in the last four contests.
Middleton is second in the NBA in the month of March in field-goal percentage (58.6 percent), tied for second in 3-point percentage (50.0 percent), first in box score +/- (plus 61) and third in effective field-goal percentage (68.1 percent).
Also not surprising is that Giannis Antetokounmpo is playing a big part in Milwaukee's success.
In the above-mentioned 11 games, "The Greek Freak" is averaging 22.5 points, 8.5 rebounds, 5.8 assists, 1.7 steals and 1.7 blocks per game while shooting 53.8 percent from the field. Antetokounmpo has three 30-point games in that span and four double-doubles.
Entering Friday's games, Antetokounmpo ranks 15th in the NBA in points per game, 16th in rebounds per game, 24th in assists per game, ninth in steals per game and fifth in blocks per game.
Since blocks and steals became official in 1973-74, only one player has played at least 70 percent of his team's games and finished the season ranked in the top 25 in each of those categories: Chris Webber with Sacramento in 2002-03.
By the way, in four games against Indiana -- Milwaukee's opponent Friday -- this season, Antetokounmpo is averaging 23.5 points, 7.5 rebounds and 9.5 assists per game.
So if for whatever reason you weren't watching out for Antetokounmpo against the Pacers, it might be a good idea as he'll, as usual, likely be a big factor.
