Milwaukee Bucks: The Eric Bledsoe effect

Antetokounmpo impact

Prior to Bledsoe arriving in Milwaukee, Giannis Antetokounmpo was having an MVP-caliber season. He was averaging 32 points per game on 60 percent shooting. On top of these incredibly efficient numbers, the Greek Freak was also putting up 9.8 rebounds, 4.8 assists, 1.6 blocks and 1.5 steals per game.

On the negative side of the ledger, he was averaging 3.6 turnovers and 4.0 fouls per game. He only fouled out of one game. However, what needs to be remembered is this is a 10-game sample size.

Since the Bledsoe trade, Antetokounmpo has still put up great numbers. In the 14 games they have played together, Antetokounmpo has averaged 28.0 points, 11.0 rebounds, 4.3 assists, 1.9 steals and 1.6 blocks per game. While he is still averaging four fouls a game, his turnovers have dropped to 2.4 per game.

His shooting percentage has gone from 60.1 percent to 50.4 percent. However, Antetokounmpo is averaging 19.4 shots per game since Bledsoe arrived. This is only slightly down from the 20.8 field goal attempts he was taking prior to the arrival of Bledsoe.

The biggest change is Bledsoe is averaging 17.9 points and 4.4 assists per game. Normally, when another high volume scorer arrives, you would expect the team to average more points per game. However, the lack of 3-point shooting from the two main scorers has lowered the total points per game from 105.4 down to 102.9. Luckily, their offensive rating has only dropped from 107.2 to 106.8 since he joined.

More importantly, the Bucks have improved defensively. Pre-Bledsoe, they allowed opponents to score 108.7 points per game and 109.5 points per 100 possessions, which ranked 29th in the league. With Bledsoe, they are only allowing 100.5 points per game and 103.1 points per 100 possessions, which ranks ninth.

Now that he does not have to run the offense, Antetokounmpo is able to give more on defense, including more defensive rebounds, allowing fewer second change points.