The Milwaukee Bucks received a massive hit in the NBA Playoffs after Khris Middleton was ruled out for the next couple of games at least. Hopefully, he recovers from the MCL sprain and helps his squad advance in the postseason, but the team will have to make do without him for now. Even so, Milwaukee might be leaning on Jrue Holiday until Middleton returns.
According to StatMuse, Jrue Holiday's defense might be the key to helping the Bucks advance without Khris Middleton. He's contested 34 total shots so far in the postseason and 25 of those have resulted in a miss. Although Milwaukee will miss Middleton's clutch shooting, Holiday's defensive prowess can keep them in any game.
The Chicago Bulls found a way to win Game 2 and hope to take a one-game lead over the Bucks on Friday. Even so, Milwaukee will lean on Giannis Antetokounmpo to stay ahead in the series. He'll need some extra help though with Khris Middleton sidelined, which makes for a perfect opportunity for Jrue Holiday to become a playoff hero in the first round.
Jrue Holiday is one of the best defensive guards in the league and has the ability to score at will. His scoring has dropped in comparison to his younger days, but with Middleton out, we should see him play more aggressively on the offensive end. That is exactly what the Bucks need if they hope to win Game 3.
Look for this Bucks-Bulls series to heat up as both teams fight for their playoff lives. If Holiday can produce more consistently on offense while maintaining his consistency on defense, Milwaukee should be just fine moving forward.