Top Ad
I DIG Radio
www.idigradio.com
Listen live to the best music from around the world!
I DIG Style
www.idigstyle.com
Learn about the latest fashion styles and more...

Bucks reassure Bledsoe as shooting woes linger

Written by 
Published in Basketball
Tuesday, 21 May 2019 23:38

TORONTO -- The extra shots were supposed to help.

Giannis Antetokounmpo, Eric Bledsoe and Khris Middleton were the last people on the Scotiabank Arena court at morning shootaround Tuesday. The trio evaded the throng of journalists that had descended at center court, and instead shot extra free throws and put up a few more 3-pointers.

After shooting a combined 23 percent in Game 3, the three players were determined to play better than they had Sunday, and that meant squeezing in some extra repetitions.

Some improvements were made -- Antetokounmpo finished with 25 points, 13 more than he had in Game 3 -- but it wasn't enough. The Milwaukee Bucks dropped Game 4 of the Eastern Conference finals to the Toronto Raptors 120-102, only the second time this season they have lost back-to-back games.

The series now heads back to Milwaukee tied at two games apiece.

"We just came out flat in the third quarter," Antetokounmpo said. "It's something we can get better at -- something we can fix."

The Bucks were down by just one point at the half, but then the game quickly unraveled for Milwaukee.

The shooting issues that have plagued Bledsoe all postseason continued in Game 4. Through the first two rounds of the playoffs this year, Bledsoe averaged 16 points. Against the Raptors in the conference finals, though, he is averaging 8.3 points.

"For Bled, it's just making sure he understands we wouldn't be here without him," Pat Connaughton told ESPN. "Everybody gets frustrated with themselves when they are not playing well because they feel like they are letting the team down. He wants to play well for his teammates."

Bledsoe finished with only five points on 2-of-7 shooting. He was 0-for-2 from 3-point range and played only 20 minutes, five less than any other starter. He hustled out of the locker room before most of his teammates had even begun showering. On his way to the bus, he shrugged off questions and assured bystanders he would be all right.

The Bucks' system is built to withstand an individual player's shooting slump, but Bledsoe is frustrated with just how long he has struggled to find the basket. According to Second Spectrum tracking, Bledsoe is shooting just 27 percent on his jump shots this postseason, the worst among all players with at least 50 attempts.

"I tell him just forget about it," Middleton told ESPN. "That's the only way you can play better, is if you stop thinking about it so much."

Malcolm Brogdon wobbled, too. He shot just 2-of-11 and finished with four points. Before Tuesday, Brogdon hadn't scored fewer than 14 points all series.

"A plethora of things went wrong," Connaughton said. "We weren't able to withstand adversity the way we normally do."

The Bucks' locker room after the game was eerily silent. Players didn't speak to one another -- not even in a whisper. The loudest sound was the whirring ceiling fan and Antetokounmpo's cellphone alarm notifying him it was time to take off his ice bags.

"The series is two to two," Middleton said. "It's not the end of the world. I know Game 5 is going to be a dog fight."

Read 1269 times

Soccer

Chelsea captain James suffers new injury setback

Chelsea captain James suffers new injury setback

EmailPrintOpen Extended ReactionsReece James has suffered another hamstring injury and will miss Che...

Miami's Gressel: Ties were 'unacceptable' to Messi

Miami's Gressel: Ties were 'unacceptable' to Messi

EmailPrintOpen Extended ReactionsMidfielder Julian Gressel said Lionel Messi demanded Inter Miami CF...

From Salah to Sterling, Ian Darke's most impressive and disappointing players

From Salah to Sterling, Ian Darke's most impressive and disappointing players

EmailPrintOpen Extended ReactionsIf the English Premier League ended today, who would be in the runn...

2026 FIFA


2028 LOS ANGELES OLYMPIC

UEFA

2024 PARIS OLYMPIC


Basketball

Sources: NBA ASG to have pickup-style format

Sources: NBA ASG to have pickup-style format

EmailPrintOpen Extended ReactionsThe NBA's new four-team tournament-style format for the 2025 All-St...

Chris Paul, Victor Wembanyama and the duo that could change the NBA

Chris Paul, Victor Wembanyama and the duo that could change the NBA

EmailPrintOpen Extended ReactionsIT WAS THE final minute in the first quarter of Chris Paul's presea...

Baseball

MLB focusing on media rights plan for all teams

MLB focusing on media rights plan for all teams

EmailPrintOpen Extended ReactionsNEW YORK -- For Major League Baseball commissioner Rob Manfred, the...

Pirates hire former player Hague as hitting coach

Pirates hire former player Hague as hitting coach

EmailPrintOpen Extended ReactionsPITTSBURGH -- The Pittsburgh Pirates have hired Matt Hague as their...

Sports Leagues

  • FIFA

    Fédération Internationale de Football Association
  • NBA

    National Basketball Association
  • ATP

    Association of Tennis Professionals
  • MLB

    Major League Baseball
  • ITTF

    International Table Tennis Federation
  • NFL

    Nactional Football Leagues
  • FISB

    Federation Internationale de Speedball

About Us

I Dig® is a leading global brand that makes it more enjoyable to surf the internet, conduct transactions and access, share, and create information.  Today I Dig® attracts millions of users every month.r

 

Phone: (800) 737. 6040
Fax: (800) 825 5558
Website: www.idig.com
Email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Affiliated