A good reason why the Milwaukee Bucks are one of the top teams today is that they lead the league in wide-open 3-pointers.
Statistics from nba.com show that the Bucks attempt 22.6 wide-open 3-pointers per game, a turnaround from their 14.3 average last year. By definition, a wide-open shot means that a defender is at least six feet away from the shooter. Out of these attempts, they convert 8.1 of them, which also leads the league. Behind them is the Atlanta Hawks with 20 attempts and the Boston Celtics with 19.1.
The reason why opponents leave Bucks wide-open is Giannis Antetokounmpo, who, at this point in the season, is an MVP candidate. As posted by basketball analyst Kirk Goldsberry, below are some clips showing how Antetokounmpo sucks in the defense, which leaves his teammates all day to shoot:
Giannis, Bud and the Bucks lead the NBA by creating 22.6 wide open 3-point looks per game; Giannis attacks, defense cheats, kick out, and repeat. https://t.co/kN8JTstzSs pic.twitter.com/Jrre5uFieX
— Kirk Goldsberry (@kirkgoldsberry) November 1, 2018
Goldsberry added that the Bucks' offense is structured to do exactly that. No one could contain the Greek Freak one-on-one. And even if you send two, there's still a good chance that he will score over them. And this has led the Bucks' foes at a dilemma:
“The ball is flying around the perimeter, and just as important, when it lands in a shooter’s hands he is expected to fire away. The sets in Milwaukee are explicitly designed to create clean looks. The new directive: Shoot ’em if you get ’em. Oh, and they have Giannis, who is quickly evolving into one of the league’s most ferocious 3-point creators.”
So if you're wondering why the Bucks have an 18-8 record and why Antetokounmpo is the leading MVP candidate, now you have the answers by way of statistics and video clips.
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