The Milwaukee Bucks, led by MVP-candidate Giannis Antetokounmpo, have surged into playoff positioning after a lackluster opening month.
Antetokounmpo has taken a noticeable offensive leap, which may be difficult to imagine. However, the Greek Freak’s midrange game has developed formidably and has resulted in the Bucks’ superstar ranking second in NBA.com’s most recent MVP ladder.
Antetokounmpo attempts the fourth-most midrange shots per game, behind only DeMar DeRozan, Brandon Ingram, and Joel Embiid. The longtime Bucks cornerstone is shooting a respectable 47.5 percent from the midrange.
Antetokounmpo explained his shift in approach recently, “I’m in an age that I’ve realized that, in order for me to be effective and still be able to help my team win games, I have to switch my game a little bit. I know I’m effective in the paint, but you take a lot of beating. Now, my body today, I feel great. I feel like I haven’t been touched, which is incredible.”
Antetokounmpo continued, “…it takes the beating out of me and my teammates want me to keep on shooting them.”
Replacing some of Antetokounmpo’s drives with midrange attempts should allow the former two-time MVP to remain healthy through the regular season. On Antetokounmpo’s drives, he has to embrace contact, which often leads to a foul. However, he is driving at the second-highest rate of his career as 56.5 percent of his shots are taken from within three feet of the hoop. So, where are these midrange shots coming from?
Well, Antetokounmpo is shooting the least amount of threes of his career, with just 3.6 percent of his shots coming from deep. He is a career 28.6 percent three-point shooter. So, a shift to more efficient midrange shots makes some sense.
Antetokounmpo detailed his midrange volume in a recent postgame media availability, saying, “I think I made like 39 [midrange shots] last year in 73 games. I’ve made 40-something in like 16 games this year.”
With the return of Khris Middleton on Friday night, Antetokounmpo could slightly adjust his approach due to Middleton’s ability to efficiently knock down shots from anywhere on the court.
Although, any threat of a jump-shot has Antetokounmpo borderline unguardable. When his defender is guarding him tightly, he can blow by and get to the rim with ease. When his defender is sagging off, the Greek Freak can now rise up and knock down the jumper confidently. Antetokounmpo adding a cromulent midrange package has him as the league’s most dominant two-way force today.
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