Goal 3. Have a Top Eight Assist Percentage

The Milwaukee Bucks have a number of players who can create for themselves on their roster. That was not the case for Budenholzer previously on the Atlanta Hawks. Only six teams were more efficient in isolation scoring, and only five teams were more efficient in pick-and-roll ball-handler scoring, per Synergy Sports Technology. Milwaukee’s passing wasn’t stellar, though.

Only six teams averaged fewer passes made per game than Milwaukee. Against the best teams in the league, that’s just not sustainable. For comparison’s sake, the Hawks ranked no lower than sixth in the NBA in assist rate in Budenholzer’s five years with them.

Antetokounmpo, Bledsoe, Middleton, and Malcolm Brogdon can all make quality drives to open up the perimeter on a consistent basis. Nonetheless, the ball movement needs to be better, and Budenholzer’s system should help. Losing Jabari Parker’s 15.3 points per game threat hurts, yes. It should free up more ball swings and allow for more cutting lanes, though. That won’t allow defenses to clog up the lane.

With John Henson playing fewer minutes and Tyler Zeller (a non-3 threat) now out of the picture, and Lopez and Ilyasova in, that will provide valuable spacing for drives and lob passes out of pick-and-rolls.

Lopez has established himself as a volume perimeter threat the last two seasons. In 2016-17, he shot 34.6 percent on 5.2 three-pointers, and last season, he shot 34.5 percent on 4.4 attempts per game. Ilyasova has always been a quality three-point marksman (with a 36.6 percent career average from three), and he’s a consummate professional off the bench is very effective at slipping as a roller.

Working with Brogdon in pick-and-rolls, and providing some dribble hand-offs to rookie first-round pick Donte DiVincenzo, the new Bucks bigs should provide a new layer for Budenholzer with their shooting ability. Mixed in with capable off-ball snipers in Sterling Brown, Pat Connaughton, and Tony Snell, I would expect Milwaukee’s off-screen efficiency and volume to increase considerably this season.

Milwaukee was the second-worst team in off-screen scoring last season, per Synergy. With more varying sets with bigs who can shoot better, that will pay dividends for Antetokounmpo to get more post-ups. When the defense doubles down, his vision will find the open man. That will create more consistent ball swings. Throughout the season, Milwaukee’s halfcourt offense should improve with added spacing, which should alleviate some of the defensive pressure on Antetokounmpo. This type of set should be there often with five eyes always on the Milwaukee star.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aQTZlK2qSIw

For them to advance against playoff competition, it can’t be isolation-heavy, slow-moving offense. For as amazing as the “Greek Freak” is, he can’t do it himself. Although his career playoff numbers (20.9 points on a 52.3 effective field goal rate, 8.7 rebounds and 4.4 assists per game) are impressive, Antetokounmpo is yet to win a playoff series.

Secondly, the Bucks must strive for a top ten defensive rating and rebounding percentage.

Next Up: Goal 2