Improved Floor Spacing Will Help Giannis a Lot

For a player who is such a playmaking focal point and isn’t a proficient jump shooter like Giannis Antetokounmpo, it’s crucial that he has a supporting cast full of reliable spot-up threats. Milwaukee produced only 1.004 points per possession as a team in spot-up situations last season, and that ranked 16th in the NBA.

Perhaps the most significant change will occur at the center position. Having a center like Brook Lopez who was good in spot-up and very good in the pick-and-pop last season instead of an interior dirty work specialist like John Henson is a massive change. The Bucks can now have more units with Giannis at the four that feature reliable spot-up threats at every position.

It’s important to note that Antetokounmpo was the most used roll man for the Bucks last season. Lopez will be able to add a much-needed layer to a half-court offense that already ranked 9th in points per possession last season. Forcing the opposition to pull their center away from the paint while having to find a power forward option that can even hope to contain Giannis could translate to tremendous results for Milwaukee.

Having a reliable stretch-five like Lopez along with other reliable shooters will not only allow Giannis to have more spacing to make plays off the dribble, it will enable him to have an easier time being a cutter and a roll man in the pick-and-roll. It also helps that he has teammates like Middleton, Brogdon, and Bledsoe to make plays and connect with Antetokounnpo on these plays.

The personnel that the Bucks have on their current roster compared to their previous group will simplify the game for Antetokounmpo when he has the ball in his hands and when he is playing off the ball. It is a scary thought to think that there could be some circumstantial improvement for Giannis in addition to the typical direct growth that he makes with his skill-set.