The Milwaukee Bucks currently hold a .500 record after a slow start to the season.
Starting wing and former three-time All Star Khris Middleton should make his season debut within the next handful of games. Middleton’s absence has allowed the Bucks to unearth contributors like Andre Jackson and AJ Green who coach Doc Rivers has relied on sans Middleton. Without Middleton’s lengthy recovery, Green and Jackson could have been buried in Rivers’ rotation.
Rivers was recently said of Middleton’s status that “He’s not available tomorrow, but he’s available soon, we hope… He’s progressing. I keep saying it. You can ask as many questions as you want, it’s not going to make him come back faster.”
Middleton will provide the Bucks with dependable floor-spacing as a career 38.8 percent shooter from three-point range. Furthermore, Middleton’s percentage from the corners is even higher at 42.8 percent. Middleton in the corners will allow maximum spacing for Giannis Antetokounmpo and Damian Lillard to operate.
Most importantly, Middleton will bolster the Bucks easily-exposed perimeter defense. Small guards have caused problems for the Bucks defense all season. Disruptively, Middleton has recorded 1.2 steals per game across his career.
It is crucial that Middleton gets acclimated in December as opposed to March. The 33-year old was able to ramp up his performance come playoff time a season ago. After averaging 15.1 points and 4.7 rebounds in the regular season, the veteran wing recorded 24.7 points and 9.2 rebounds per game in the six-game opening round series defeat to the Indiana Pacers.
What could the Bucks and their fans expect when Middleton does eventually return? Rivers shared some thoughts, saying, “When he’s back and he’s ready, he’s gonna play. It doesn’t matter if we have five in a row. He won’t play all five, but he’ll play.”
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