After a sluggish start to the season, Pat Connaughton has been playing much better lately for the Milwaukee Bucks.
Connaughton’s impact has not gone unnoticed under the watchful eye of Doc Rivers, who issued a statement incredibly interesting statement about Connaughton recently, highlighting how much of an impact the guard had on the Bucks when Rivers was coaching the Philadelphia 76ers and how he sees that player on the court consistently again.
“We talked, I mean around the All-Star break, and I told him [some] things between him and me, and he responded. He was phenomenal. He is aggressive. He bounces. He plays like the Pat Connaughton we were afraid of when I was in Philly. »
Connaughton may not have been as scary as someone like Giannis Antetokounmpo, but it’s interesting to hear how someone previously on the opposite bench viewed the guard. During the 2020-21 and 2021-22 seasons, Connaughton has been a tremendous role player for the Bucks, playing his role as well as anyone in his position. Yet that play had declined over the last season and a half.
Those struggles apparently prompted Rivers to talk to Connaughton during the break to try to uplift him.
Indeed, Connaughton was much better for the Bucks after the All-Star break. In nine games so far, he’s averaged 7.9 points, 2.9 rebounds and 1.6 assists while shooting 49 percent from the floor and making 38.9 percent from 3 points. Connaughton’s scoring and shooting efficiency have skyrocketed compared to his pre-All-Star Break numbers, and there might be a clear indicator as to why.
Before the All-Star break, Connaughton’s name was surrounded by trade rumors. Whenever the Bucks were linked to someone, the guard was often the first player brought up. The type of uncertainty where one constantly wonders if they will be forced to move at some point can undoubtedly impact their performance, and it appears that This was true for Connaughton.
Now, nine games isn’t the largest sample size, but Connaughton has shown he can be valuable to this Milwaukee team as an impact player off the bench. His play in 2021 in the same role was one of many factors that helped them win it all that season, and if they want to go all the way, they could use this type of strong play from him consistently throughout the streak and in the NBA Playoffs.
Connaughton’s value to Milwaukee comes from his ability to be a jack of all trades. He provides key perimeter shooting, but can also attack the hoop, rebound and play pesky defense, all of which has been demonstrated at a high level over the last few games. Whatever Rivers and Connaughton said during the break seems to be working, which could be huge for the Bucks down the line.
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