Milwaukee Bucks: Tony Snell is looking comfortable in the offense

In his second season with the Milwaukee Bucks, Tony Snell is looking comfortable in the offense.

Tony Snell is starting to look really comfortable in the Milwaukee Bucks‘ offense. It can be easy to play the game when you are playing alongside a player such as Giannis Antetokounmpo, but the Bucks are more than a one-man band. If they are going to make some noise in the playoffs, they need to perform as a unit, with Antetokounmpo as their leader and star.

To this end, it is vital players like Snell are performing well in their role. However, it is important to note, Snell’s current play is on the back of Khris Middleton returning to the offense.

Last season, Middleton played only 29 games towards the back end of the season. In those games, Snell managed to get into double figures 15 times.

In the other 51 games Snell played last season, he only managed to get past 10 points 16 times. This equates to a lowly 32 percent of games where Middleton did not play. There are a myriad of reasons for this, but the main one is Middleton’s shooting.

Middleton is a career 40 percent 3-point shooter. He is always going to demand the best wing defender of any opposition. As a result, Snell has an easier time shooting the long ball.

Tony Snell by the numbers

Snell’s numbers are certainly telling. In his three seasons with the Chicago Bulls, Snell shot 35 percent from deep. In his 84 games with the Bucks, Snell has shot an impressive 41 percent from deep. This season, he is shooting an unbelievable 47 percent from long range.

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However, it is not just his 3-point shooting which is improving. Snell is averaging 1.3 free throw attempts per game. At the moment he has not missed one. I know four games is a small sample size, but this is an improvement on his 0.6 free throw attempts per game for his career.

Where the difference is for me in this statistic is all five of his free throw attempts came in the last game against the Charlotte Hornets. To me, this shows Snell has gained the confidence to attack the rim a little more. He is still a great shooter from deep, as shown by the numbers above but the more he does on offense, the more he helps the Bucks. Now the key will be attacking the basket and getting to the line consistently,

All of this has meant Snell is scoring the ball more for the Milwaukee Bucks. Over his career, Snell has averaged 6.2 points per game. This season, he is averaging 11.0 points per game. This is a massive jump. It is also incredible considering the scoring numbers Antetokounmpo is putting up.

The key number for the Milwaukee Bucks

All of these numbers above are brilliant. However, there is one metric which is a surefire measure of a player’s impact. On top of scoring at almost twice his points per game average, Snell’s assist numbers are exactly double.

Over his career, Snell has averaged 0.9 assists per game. This season, he is averaging 1.8 assists per game. This number shows Snell has gone from a catch-and-shoot specialist to someone who is also looking to create for his teammates.

This is crucial for the success of any offense. If the players who are designated for catch-and-shoot scenarios are looking for the extra pass, defenses are going to be kept guessing. If Snell is passing up a good shot for a better shot, then the Bucks are more likely to score on the play.

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Whether it is the extra pass to a wide open shooter or a pass into the deep paint for a dunk, Snell is looking for the best option. This bodes well for a team looking to make a deep playoff run.