Milwaukee Bucks: 3 key adjustments for Game 4 vs. Raptors

1. Giannis Antetokounmpo must return to MVP form, starting lineup must play better overall

MVP and Defensive Player of the Year candidate Giannis Antetokounmpo has had his way against the competition during the playoffs. In a four-game sweep against the Detroit Pistons in the opening round, he averaged 26.3 points and 12.0 rebounds per outing on 51.2 percent shooting.

In the semifinals series against the Boston Celtics, Giannis compiled averages of 28.4 points and 10.8 boards per contest while shooting 53.4 percent from the floor. In the conference finals, he has a struggled a bit, to say the least.

Through the first three games of this series, the Bucks’ forward is still averaging a double-double with 22 points and 18 rebounds per contest. However, he is shooting just 41.7 percent from the field. This includes a pedestrian 12-point, 5-for-16 effort in Game 3, which came with eight turnovers and six fouls.

However, the Greek Freak wasn’t the only guy who struggled in Milwaukee’s Game 3 loss. Khris Middleton had his worst outing of the postseason, scoring just nine points on 3-for-16 shooting from the floor and 1-for-7 shooting from downtown.

Eric Bledsoe‘s struggles continued as he also shot 3-for-16 from the field and is shooting just 24.6 percent in this series. Furthermore, the starting five shot a combined 19-for-69 overall (27.5 percent) and an abysmal 6-for-29 from 3-point range (20.7 percent). Aside from Brook Lopez converting five of his 10 attempts, the team’s overall shooting percentage would have been 21.8 percent.

For all the negatives that took place in Game 3, though, the Bucks still managed to extend the game into double-overtime. If they’re able to make the necessary corrections in these areas, they should return home with a 3-1 series lead.