Milwaukee Bucks: Bobby Portis needs more minutes with Giannis Antetokounmpo

The Milwaukee Bucks‘ decision to sign Bobby Portis as a backup big man last November received a lukewarm response from the NBA community. Bleacher Report gave the signing a C+ grade saying that Portis had a history of scoring points off the bench but was always a below-average player in true shooting percentage.

Fortunately for the Bucks, Portis is exceeding expectations shooting a career-high 52.6 percent from the field on 9.0 attempts per game. The shooting percentage has helped him generate 11.3 points per game in 60 appearances. More importantly, Portis has been above average in the true shooting department, with a field goal percentage of 60.3 percent.

Why the Milwaukee Bucks should play Bobby Portis and Giannis Antetokounmpo together more often

Although Portis has exceeded expectations in his current situation, is it the proper role for him? No, as he should be playing with Giannis Antetokounmpo more often. Antetokounmpo is currently the focal point of the Bucks’ offensive system as he leads the team in transition, isolation, and post-up possessions.

Milwaukee currently leads in transition possessions thru 65 outings averaging 22.6 per game. The team has given Antetokounmpo 30.5 percent of those possessions as he is averaging 6.9 per game. The Bucks are also third in the league in isolation possessions averaging 9.8 per game.

Antetokounmpo has taken 46.9 percent of the isolation possessions, averaging 4.6 per game in 54 appearances. Lastly, Milwaukee is currently fourth in post-up possessions averaging 7.6 per game. Milwaukee has given him 44.7 percent of the team’s post-up possessions as he is averaging 3.4 per game.

The Milwaukee Bucks offense has forced other front-court players to spend most of their minutes as floor spacers. For example, Lopez stood near the rim earlier in the third quarter of a road game against Toronto. Lopez began to backpedal towards the left corner as Antetokounmpo brought the ball up the court. Antetokounmpo stopped near the free-throw line to pass the basketball to Lopez, who missed a three-pointer.

Consequently, front-court players have taken most of their shots from behind the arc this season. Portis and Brook Lopez have taken over 26 percent of the shots from three, averaging 2.4 and 4.2 per respectively. At least 90.5 percent of those shots have been catch and shoots as they are averaging 2.3 and 3.8 per game, respectively.

Portis has performed better than Lopez from the arc this season, converting 46.4 percent of his catch and shoots, 12.7 percent better than Lopez. The catch and shoot statistics have propelled him to shoot 47.2 from behind the arc, 13.1 percent better than Lopez.

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It is not the first time that Portis has out-performed Lopez as he was for the past 3 seasons before arriving in Milwaukee. Portis has converted 37.8 percent of his catch and shoots on 3 attempts per game. Catch and shoots accounted for 93.8 percent of the attempts as he shot 36.9 percent from behind the arc on 3.2 shots per game.

Portis’ statistics are at least 2 percent better than Lopez as Lopez converted 34 percent of his catch and shoots on 4.7 attempts per game. Catch and shoots were responsible for 90.4 percent of the attempts as he shot 34.5 percent on 5.2 shots per game.

Despite Portis’ superior performance, he is averaging 9.8 minutes per game with Antetokounmpo, 53.1 percent less than Lopez. Despite the limited minutes, the team has excelled, shooting 48.5 percent from the field on 18.5 attempts per game. The shooting percentage helped them outscore opponents by 3 points as they are averaging 25 per game.

These statistics are in the same ballpark of the Lopez minutes as they are shooting 50.6 percent on 39.8 attempts per game. The field goal percentage played a vital role in outscoring rivals by 3.9 points as they have created 53 per game.

Consequently, the Milwaukee Bucks should consider increasing Portis’ minutes with Giannis Antetokounmpo by 22.4 percent to 12 per game as they’ve performed exceedingly well in limited action.