The Milwaukee Bucks’ late-game closer isn’t who it should be

Giannis needs to be the closer for the Milwaukee Bucks

The Milwaukee Bucks have a big problem, and that problem was on full display recently in a tight game late in the fourth quarter of their game against the Brooklyn Nets. The Bucks do not have a bona fide closer to go and get them buckets when needed late in games.

If Khris Middleton is taking the bulk of the team’s late-game shots, with the back-to-back MVP on the floor, then you have a huge problem that needs addressing immediately. On most teams with championship aspirations, the “superstar” usually demands the ball in late-game situations.

But Giannis Antetokounmpo is not your typical NBA superstar. He [Giannis] did not grow up in the United States and did not come up through the same AAU basketball system as so many of his peers did. There isn’t that same arrogance and sense of entitlement – or confidence – with the “Greek Freak” as with some other players.

More from Sir Charles In Charge

• Dillon Brooks proved his value to Houston Rockets in the 2023 FIBA World Cup
• NBA Trade Rumors: 1 Player from each team most likely to be traded in-season
• Golden State Warriors: Buy or sell Chris Paul being a day 1 starter
• Does Christian Wood make the Los Angeles Lakers a legit contender?
• NBA Power Rankings: Tiering all 30 projected starting point guards for 2023-24

Antetokounmpo goes out every night and gives his all, never complains, and leaves everything on the floor seemingly. At some point, he [Giannis] must take the baton and make the Bucks his team.

On the surface, the Bucks do feel like Giannis’ team. Look no further than the $228 million supermax contract he signed in December. Whenever a team signs a player to the largest contract in league history, you better believe they expect that player to lead them to the promised land. But this Bucks team doesn’t feel any closer to an NBA championship than they did last year or the year before that.

The team did bring in Jrue Holiday via trade from the New Orleans Pelicans and paid a hefty price in acquiring his services. Holiday makes the Bucks much better in the backcourt, especially on the defensive end of the floor. But even with Holiday shoring up the backcourt now, it still doesn’t feel like enough.

Antetokounmpo, Middleton, and Holiday make a great trio. Is this a trio worthy of the big three moniker?

Even if they are considered a “big three” when up against just two superstar talents in Kevin Durant and James Harden, the Bucks’ big three didn’t match up. The game was close and came down to the final seconds, but the Nets were without the third member of their big three in Kyrie Irving. If Irving is available, the next time these teams meet, the game might not be as close as before.

Middleton jacking up 3’s late in regulation will get this team nowhere fast. Head coach Mike Budenholzer needs to step in and talk to Antetokounmpo and get him to realize that he is the superstar on this team. The Bucks need to find a way to get him [Giannis] better looks late in games once opponents back off and dare him to shoot from long distance.

Draw up plays that free him up closer to the basket, take it old school, and get him down on the low block or anything more than what they have done for the past couple of seasons. Middleton is not the answer, and him taking off-balance 23-footers down the stretch of games as

Antetokounmpo playing decoy at the end of games is not going to cut it. Coach Bud must figure this issue out soon, or it will be another second-round playoff exit for his Bucks, which could result in his departure from the organization.