Bucks: Khris Middleton's Stats in Return Shows He Is Milwaukee's Most Important Piece in the Playoffs

(Photo : Patrick McDermott/Getty Images) MILWAUKEE, WISCONSIN - Khris Middleton (#22) of the Milwaukee Bucks warms up before a game against the Phoenix Suns at Fiserv Forum on March 17, 2024 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin.

Khris Middleton has returned for the Milwaukee Bucks, and it feels like he never missed a beat, lifting his team on a night they missed Giannis Antetokounmpo to injury.

The sweet-shooting 12-year veteran scored 22 points and dished out seven assists in 25 minutes to help his team get back on the visiting Phoenix Suns, 140-129.

Before Sunday, his last game was also against the Suns on February 6, when he was forced to sit out the rest of the night after injuring his ankle when he landed on Kevin Durant's foot from a jump shot.

Damian Lillard led the way for the Bucks with his 31-5-16 statline, becoming the first Bucks ever to put up 30+ points and 15+ assists in a single game.

Dame thinks Middleton made the correct calculation about his return.

"[Middleton] looked great to me," he said.

"He really took his time to make sure he was right. At our age, how long we've been in this league and how many miles we've got on our bodies, we know our bodies, when we should be coming back."

For coach Doc Rivers' part, he was in awe of how Middleton put up impressive numbers despite being out for more than a month.

Middleton is X-factor for the Bucks

The expectations for Milwaukee are high. To some, it is a championship or bust.

The team knows that, too. They started the NBA 2023-2024 season as favorites after getting to combine Lillard with Antetokounmpo.

While these two All-Stars carry the bulk of the load for the Bucks, Middleton will play an equally important role for the team.

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One can even say that he is Milwaukee's most important piece right now. They have 14 games left to get him acclimated to Rivers' system and playing alongside two other superstars.

Lillard and Antetokounmpo can create their own shots. Middleton is the team's third-best player.

Things will get easier for the superstar duo if the 32-year-old forward can stay healthy.

Rivers admits that he does not know how to use Middleton yet. However, he is excited about the prospect of moving from a two-man game to an offense with a triple threat.

"I thought at times with Dame (Lillard) and Giannis (Antetokounmpo), we got one-side oriented and didn't move it," Rivers said before the Suns game.

"We'd swing it and it'd go back to the same side. With Khris on the other side at times, we can now develop going from a two-man game to a three-man game."

Middleton can create his own shots, too. He is a great post-up player.

This means that if things are not going well for either Dame or Giannis, Khash Money can take over.

Giannis is also getting better at passing, and Middleton can wait from beyond the arch to get the ball to him.

The potential for more assists comes with Middleton's return, too.

Frank Madden of Brew Hoop provided data on how the team's offensive rating shoots up with Middleton around.

The Bucks indeed struggled, but it is hard to judge how good they can be unless people have seen their full potential.

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