What the Milwaukee Bucks learned from the 2017 NBA Finals
Value of shooting
The 2017 NBA Finals pitted two of the very best offenses in NBA history against each other, and the results were high scores and plenty of highlight plays. While both teams had the ability to score at all three levels, the key to unlocking those numbers was an abundance of shooting.
For the Warriors, their entire offense is centered on shooting, with three of the best shooters in NBA history roaming the perimeter. The vaunted Death Lineup is so potent because it combines five capable-at-worst shooters without sacrificing defense.
The Milwaukee Bucks have a number of long, versatile defenders that can guard multiple positions. But offensively, most of their best players struggle to hit shots from outside, and their roster as currently constructed trots out only one or two true shooters at a time.
The Cleveland Cavaliers have a variety of offensive attacks, but one of their most dangerous is when LeBron James posts up with four shooters spreading the floor around him. He can back down a single defender, or move the ball to an open shooter if the defense decides to double.
Giannis Antetokounmpo has the passing ability to run similar sets, and the length to score over almost anyone in the paint. But he rarely has four shooters around him, making a double-team much easier for a smart defense to execute.
If Thon Maker develops the three-point shot he flashed at times during his rookie season, the makings of a four-out lineup are within reach. Malcolm Brogdon should continue to adjust to three-point range, and Jabari Parker was in the process of adding deep range to his jumper prior to his injury.
With the NBA Draft in the rearview mirror the Bucks had a chance to address this weakness directly. D.J. Wilson is a stretch-4 with upside to hit shots outside, while second round pick Sterling Brown was a college sniper. Free agency could see a player such as Ian Clark or Patty Mills join the roster to address that need as well.
However the team looks to improve its shooting — internal development, draft or free agency — it’s clear that this is the biggest difference between title contenders and the Milwaukee Bucks.