3 reasons the Milwaukee Bucks are ready for the postseason

Presence of a true point guard

Eric Bledsoe is a wily NBA veteran who can help any team he suits up for. That being said, there’s a reason John Calipari used him as a shooting guard when he played for the Kentucky Wildcats; he’s not a pure point guard.

This past offseason, Milwaukee’s front office sent Bledsoe to New Orleans in exchange for Jrue Holiday, a former All-Star who’s often celebrated for his playmaking prowess. The 2020 NBA Teammate of the Year has stepped right into his role as the starting point guard and displayed the generalship the Bucks so desperately needed. With averages of 17.2 points and 5.6 assists per game, he has found the perfect balance between scoring and playmaking.

In a March 22 game against the Indiana Pacers at Fiserv Forum, Holiday had his best game as a Buck, putting his entire arsenal on display. Shooting a blistering 11-for-15 from the field on his way to 28 points, he also dished out 14 dimes. All of this was done in the absence of Giannis Antetokounmpo, proving the team now has another weapon opposing defenses cannot ignore.

In years past, opponents felt they could zero in on Antetokounmpo and Middleton and dare the supporting cast to beat them. Holiday’s presence means that strategy is no longer an option.