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Milwaukee Bucks: Why the Joe Johnson workout is pointless

By Zamir Bueno

AUBURN HILLS, MICHIGAN - SEPTEMBER 30: Joe Johnson #24 of the Detroit Pistons poses for a portrait during the Detroit Pistons Media Day at Pistons Practice Facility on September 30, 2019 in Auburn Hills, Michigan. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Gregory Shamus/Getty Images)
AUBURN HILLS, MICHIGAN - SEPTEMBER 30: Joe Johnson #24 of the Detroit Pistons poses for a portrait during the Detroit Pistons Media Day at Pistons Practice Facility on September 30, 2019 in Auburn Hills, Michigan. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Gregory Shamus/Getty Images) /
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The Milwaukee Bucks have reportedly opened the door for Joe Johnson to return to the NBA. Michael Scotto of Hoopshype revealed on April 12th that the Bucks had scheduled a workout with Joe Johnson in the near future.

How the Milwaukee Bucks would use Joe Johnson

But is working out Johnson a good idea for the Bucks? On the surface, it seems like a good idea as Budenholzer has used perimeter players in Milwaukee as floor spacers. Budenholzer has implemented an offensive system revolving around transition, isolation and post-up possessions.

The Bucks are currently leading the league in transition possessions averaging 22.7 per game in 53 outings. Budenholzer has handed 31.3 percent of the team’s transition possessions to Giannis Antetokounmpo as he is averaging 7.1 per game. The Bucks are also 6th in the league in isolation possessions averaging 9.1 per game.

Antetokounmpo has taken 49.4 percent of the isolation possessions, averaging 4.5 per game in 46 appearances. Lastly, Milwaukee is currently 5th in post-up possessions averaging 7 per game. Milwaukee has given 50 percent of the team’s post-up possessions averaging 3.5 per game.

Budenholzer’s decision to make Antetokounmpo the offense’s focal point has forced his teammates to be floor spacers. For example, Donte DiVincenzo, Khris Middleton, and Jrue Holiday stood behind the arc early in the first quarter of a road game against the Portland Trail Blazers.

As they stood behind the arc, Antetokounmpo dribbled the ball up the court until he was near the free-throw line. Once Antetokounmpo got there, he saw that Jusuf Nurkic was giving him space to shoot the ball. Consequently, Antetokounmpo ended the possession by making a mid-range jumper.

The usage of perimeter players has contributed to them taking most of their shots from behind the arc. Holiday is currently taking a career-high 35.5 percent of his shots from behind the arc averaging 4.8 per game over his first 41 outings. Catch and shoots accounted for 45.8 percent of those attempts as he is averaging 2.2 per game.

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Fortunately for the Bucks, Johnson has the tools to thrive in the role as he has converted 38.7 percent of his catch and shoots since the 2013-14 season on 3.1 attempts per game. Catch and shoots have been responsible for 79.5 percent of those shots as he has shot 37.7 percent from behind the arc on 3.9 attempts per game.

Why the Joe Johnson workout is pointless for the Milwaukee Bucks

The only downside is that the Bucks’ will not be able to Johnson’s floor spacing skills in the playoffs. The NBA required players to be on the roster by April 9th to be eligible for the playoffs this season. Consequently, Johnson will be eligible to play for the remainder of the regular season.

Unfortunately, Milwaukee doesn’t need him for the rest of the regular season as they are firmly entrenched into the third seed. Milwaukee is 3.5 games behind the Nets for the second seed as of April 13th and 4 games ahead for the fourth seed Hawks.

Consequently, the Bucks’ organization should focus on giving more minutes to the playoff-eligible players. For example, Sam Merrill shot 42 percent from behind the arc in college on 5.8 attempts per game. He has continued to shoot the ball well as a professional converting 46.2 percent of his threes on 0.9 attempts per game.

Despite Merrill’s shooting ability, he has only averaged 8 minutes per game in 23 appearances.
The organization should be trying to get Merrill at least 16 minutes per game to see if he maintains his performance level with a bigger opportunity. If Merrill can maintain his performance level, it increases the likelihood that he could become a rotation player in the playoffs.

In conclusion, Johnson being disqualified for the playoffs makes his workout with the Bucks pointless.

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