Milwaukee Bucks: Why D.J. Augustin needs more minutes with Giannis Antetokounmpo

There was a consensus around the league that the Milwaukee Bucks signed D.J. Augustin in November to add depth to their roster. Adam Wells of Bleacher Report wrote an article saying that the team signed Augustin to get more depth at the point guard position as they traded Eric Bledsoe and George Hill to acquire Jrue Holiday.

How the Milwaukee Bucks are currently using D.J. Augustin

The consensus has been right so far as Augustin is currently the backup point guard for the Bucks averaging 16.8 minutes per game. Unfortunately, Augustin has produced mixed results as part of Milwaukee’s second unit during the first 18 games this season.

Augustin is shooting a career-low 29.4 percent inside the arc on 1.9 attempts per game. The shooting percentage helped him generate 1.2 points per game, 21.8 percent of his scoring output, as he is averaging 5.5 per game.

However, it has been an entirely different story when Augustin steps behind the arc as he has converted 45.5 percent of his catch and shoot threes on 1.8 attempts per game. The conversion rate has allowed him to generate 2.4 points per game, 43.6 percent of his scoring output.

Catch and shoots currently account for 62.1 percent of his threes as he is shooting 39.6 percent from behind the arc on 2.9 attempts per game. The conversion rate helped him create 3.6 points per game, 65.4 percent of his scoring output.

Despite the mixed results, Augustin has been a positive influence on the team as they are shooting 45.8 percent from the field on 33.2 attempts per game. The field goal percentage has helped Milwaukee outscore opponents by 1.6 points per game as they have generated 40.7 points.

Why the Milwaukee Bucks should play D.J. Augustin and Giannis Antetokounmpo together more often

Although the team has performed well with Augustin in his current role, Milwaukee’s offensive system suggests he should have a larger role. Head coach Mike Budenholzer is currently running a system centered around isolation, post up and transition possessions.

Milwaukee is currently 5th in the league in isolation possessions averaging 8.9 per game over the first 19 games. Budenholzer gave 49.4 percent of those possessions to Giannis Antetokounmpo as he is averaging 4 per game.

The Bucks are also 9th in the league in post-up possessions averaging 6.8 per game. Antetokounmpo has been responsible for 41.2 percent of those possessions averaging 2.8 per game. Lastly, Milwaukee is currently leading the league in transition possessions averaging 24.1 per game. Antetokounmpo has taken 32.8 percent of those possessions, averaging 7.9 per game.

Budenholzer’s usage of Antetokounmpo has forced the rest of the roster to play the floor spacer role. For example, Jrue Holiday has been on the court with Antetokounmpo for 25.7 minutes per game, 76.9 percent of his playing time.

Consequently, he has taken 39.5 percent of his field goals from behind the arc averaging 5.3 threes per game. Catch and shoots have accounted for 49 percent of the attempts averaging 2.6 per game.

Therefore, Augustin would be an ideal candidate to be on the floor with Antetokounmpo due to his shooting track record. Augustin has made 40.0 percent of his catch and shoot threes since the 2013-14 season on 1.8 attempts per game.

51.4 percent of his three-point attempts since the 2013-14 season have been catch and shoots as Augustin is shooting 38.5 percent from behind the arc on 3.5 attempts per game. Unfortunately, Budenholzer hasn’t taken advantage of his shooting prowess as Augustin has only been on the floor with Antetokounmpo for 8.4 minutes per game

The Milwaukee Bucks have performed well in these limited minutes shooting 47.7 percent from the field on 16.4 attempts, creating 21.9 points per game. The Bucks’ production has allowed them to outscore opponents by 2.7 points per game over 8.4 minutes.

Milwaukee’s performance suggests that Augustin should play with Antetokounmpo more often. Consequently, Budenholzer should stagger Antetokounmpo and Holiday to give Augustin more playing time with Antetokounmpo. Holiday is a player who excels when he is attacking the basket, as he posted his best offensive statistics in the 2018-19 season, averaging 21.2 points per game.

Holiday was allowed to drive a career-high 16.6 times per game, shooting 52 percent from the field on 7.7 attempts per game. The field goal percentage helped him generate 9.7 points per game, 45.7 percent of his scoring output.

He has only attacked the basket 9.6 times per game over the first 19 outings this season, shooting 49.4 percent from the field on 4.2 attempts per game. Holiday is generating 4.9 points on these drives, 30.2 percent of his scoring output.

Therefore, Budenholzer should only play Antetokounmpo and Holiday together for 13-15 minutes per game, a 41.6- 49.4 percent decrease. It would allow Holiday to be the ball handler more often, increasing the likelihood of driving to the basket.

On the other hand, it opens the door for Augustin and Antetokounmpo to play an extra 5-8 minutes together.