Milwaukee Bucks: 3 takeaways from Game 1 comeback victory vs. Raptors
By Ananth Para
3. Malcolm Brogdon was the Bucks’ best guard
Although Eric Bledsoe is the flashier player, capable of creating highlight reel moments on each and every single one of his high-intensity drives, second round draft pick Malcolm Brogdon may have established himself as the best guard on the Milwaukee Bucks.
After playing just 17 minutes in the closeout game against the Boston Celtics, Brogdon was relied on more throughout the first game of the Eastern Conference Finals, logging in 27 minutes off the bench, culminating to a team-high +18 when on the court.
Although Brogdon is clearly shaking off the rust from his one month layoff (evident by his horrid misses from 3 in the first half), the combo guard was given the task of guarding Kawhi Leonard for large stretches of both the second and third quarter. While Khris Middleton was cheating off his assignment ready to help (usually Danny Green or Pascal Siakam), Brogdon more than held his own against the silent superstar.
Brogdon matched his defensive intensity on offense, delivering 15 points, three rebounds and three assists on 5-of-9 shooting from the field and 3-of-6 from deep to make up for Middleton and Bledsoe’s poor offensive outing ( a combined 20 points on 7-of-24 shooting).