Milwaukee Bucks: 3 big questions heading into 2019-20

1. What’s next for Giannis Antetokounmpo?

Here’s a list of players to post a season in which they averaged at least 27 points, 12 rebounds and 5 assists per game while shooting at least 57 percent from the field:

1. Giannis Antetokounmpo

That’s it. That’s the list. Winning the league’s MVP award while finishing second in voting for Defensive Player of the Year, it was a season for the ages for the Greek Freak. Antetokounmpo was virtually unstoppable all season and well into the playoffs. His worst series last postseason came in the Eastern Conference Finals, where he averaged 22.7 points and 13.5 rebounds per game, but did so on 44.8 percent shooting from the field.

Much like the “Jordan Rules” defensive scheme drawn up by the Detroit Pistons in the late 1980s and early 1990s, the Toronto Raptors’ unique system used to guard Antetokounmpo exposed the few flaws in his game. An excellent breakdown of the defense implemented can be found here.

To paraphrase, Toronto often built a wall of defenders to keep Antetokounmpo from attacking the rim with the same ease he did throughout the regular season. Slowing him down early in transition and putting multiple bodies in his way caused the Bucks’ star player to have to settle for either contested jump shots or putting his faith in his teammates when he passed to them. It didn’t work all too well.

67.8 percent of Antetokounmpo’s shot attempts last season came at the rim. Converting on those attempts at an extraordinary 76.1 percent clip, it didn’t seem to be a problem. When those shots weren’t available, though, Antetokounmpo struggled to put the ball in the basket with any consistency.

If he wants to take his game to the next level in 2019-20, he’ll have to display the ability to keep defenses honest with his jumper. If he doesn’t, Toronto’s defensive game plan could be put into action by other teams.

The Milwaukee Bucks will only go as far as Antetokounmpo will take them. His growth will be something to keep an eye on as the 2019-20 season unfolds.