Milwaukee Bucks: 3 Points Will Always Be Greater Than 2

With the way the Milwaukee Bucks have shot and defended at the three-point line, consistent success has been impossible.

The Milwaukee Bucks walked off the court Friday night having made more field goals than the Miami Heat. They had also made only one less free throw than the Heat on Friday. But like many nights this season for the young Bucks, they walked off the court empty-handed, losing to Miami 107-103.

The story begins and ends with the three-point line.

So far this season, Milwaukee has allowed their opponents to make 9.3 threes per game against them. So on Friday night when the Bucks held Miami to only seven made threes, it would appear to be a positive. However, Milwaukee in their own right only managed to make two three-pointers. This has been the story of the Bucks season.

Jan 17, 2016; Oklahoma City, OK, USA; Miami Heat guard Dwyane Wade (3) reacts to a call in action against the Oklahoma City Thunder during the second quarter at Chesapeake Energy Arena. Mandatory Credit: Mark D. Smith-USA TODAY Sports /

I mention that because even though Milwaukee is giving up 9.3 threes per game this year; Sacramento, Charlotte, Houston, and Phoenix all have given up more made threes. The problem is, is that all four of those previously mentioned teams actually make threes of their own on offense.

Phoenix, Houston, and Charlotte all have made an average of more than nine threes per game, and Sacramento has made more than eight per night. So how many threes have the Milwaukee Bucks made per game this season?

Five … well, 5.4 to be exact.

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The Milwaukee Bucks are giving up four more threes than they are making on average this season.

This means that on every night, on average, the Bucks are digging themselves in a 12-point hole, solely based on the shots taken by them and allowed on defense during the flow of a game.

Now, I know that is a strange way to look at the game of basketball. But in all honestly that is exactly what is happening to the Bucks this season. Combine to their inability to stop the three with their inability to shoot the three, they have to make up 12 points every night.

This stat becomes even more alarming when you take into account that no other team in the NBA has this problem. As noted earlier, almost every team that is getting burned consistently by the three accounts for the problem by making threes of their own.

Sacramento, the worst at defending the three-point line, is giving up a staggering 10.5 threes per game this season. But they have at least minimized their defensive shortcomings by making 8.2 three-pointers of their own.

Jan 28, 2016; Memphis, TN, USA; Milwaukee Bucks Khris Middleton (22) shoots the ball as Memphis Grizzlies guard Courtney Lee (5) defends in the first quarter at FedExForum. Mandatory Credit: Nelson Chenault-USA TODAY Sports /

In a season that has now seen the Milwaukee Bucks play 49 games, in only nine have the Bucks made more threes than their opponent.

This means that the Bucks have played in 40 games this season where they have had to find ways to significantly outscore their opponents from other areas of the floor. Success has been found close to the basket for Milwaukee. The Bucks lead the entire league in points in the paint, scoring 49.5 points per game down low.

Unfortunately for Milwaukee, their success scoring in the paint hasn’t lead to overall offensive success.

The concern many had for the Bucks in the offseason was that their lack of outside shooting would hurt spacing and make it tough for Milwaukee’s skilled drivers to get into the lane. However, now that they are leading the league in points in the paint the issue has become clear.

Three points are better than two.

Analytics experts have been saying this for years and it is the theory that has shaped the way the NBA is played today. For the past year, Milwaukee has attempted to run an offense contrary to those analytical beliefs.

Last season, the Bucks traded Brandon Knight and acquired Michael Carter-Williams during the All Star break. Before that trade, the Bucks were making 7.2 threes per game and were waltzing into the playoffs with a record of 30-23.

Following the break the Bucks struggled offensively and limped into the playoffs with a 41-41 record, and seven games under .500 after the trade.

The difference?

Milwaukee only made 5.7 threes per game after the All-Star break.

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It may not be fair to place the struggles of the Bucks solely on the shooting of their point guard. When you make a trade that takes away three-point shooting from your offense, you cannot compound that issue by becoming one of the worst teams in the league defending the three.

This is notable because along with making 7.2 threes pre-All-Star-break last season, Milwaukee was also only giving up 7.7 threes defensively.

Somewhere between the trade last season and the offseason moves that shipped veterans out of Milwaukee, the Bucks lost their way defensively. Even with improved shooting from the point guard position, it wouldn’t cover the mess that is the Bucks three-point defense.

However, having a point guard that could space the floor may help the three point differential the Bucks are facing on a nightly basis.

The Bucks could look to solve their offensive shooting woes by bringing in a point guard such as Jeff Teague. I discussed in an article earlier this week the history Teague and the Bucks have together. With Teague being placed on the trading block earlier this week, now may be the time to strike for Milwaukee.

Whether the Bucks will make a move before the trade deadline next month remains to be seen. But one way or another something has to give for this Bucks team.

It is simply impossible to consistently win when you lose the battle of the three-point line every night.

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