Milwaukee Bucks: 5 musts for D.J. Wilson in crucial season

4. Shoot 70 percent from the free-throw line

History has shown time and time again that close games are often won and lost at the foul line. In 1985, 17-year-old Scott Howard renounced the werewolf he’d morphed into for several games during an epic tournament run. In a decision most pundits described as ill-advised, Howard played the championship game as a human being. With no time left on the clock, he sank two free throws to give the Beavers a one-point win.

To be fair, Wilson improved his free throw shooting in his third season. The 61.1 percent he shot from the foul line last year was the best of his career and a considerable improvement over the 55.3 percent he shot during his second season.

However, unless your name is Shaquille O’Neal, poor free-throw shooting is a glaring weakness that will make any head coach hesitant to put you in a game. The fact is, missing four out of ten free throws is a very big deal.

Wilson is not a member of the Bucks for his offensive arsenal. The best scoring he can provide for the team will come as a result of crashing the glass, grabbing offensive rebounds and going right back up with the ball. As bodies clash inside the paint, these plays often result in the offensive player getting fouled and heading for the charity stripe.

Budenholzer must be confident that Wilson will knock down both free throws in most of his trips to the line if he is to see a significant increase in minutes. If not Wilson will see limited playing time this season, especially down the stretch of close games.