What Bledsoe Brings to Milwaukee Bucks

Maxwell Timmer, Staff Writer, Journalism I

On Nov. 7 of this season, The Phoenix Sun traded point guard Eric Bledsoe to the Milwaukee Bucks for center Greg Monroe, a 2018 protected first-round pick and a 2018 protected second-round pick.

This trade is one of the biggest trades to happen in Milwaukee Bucks history.

Now, over a month after the blockbuster trade the Bucks are hitting on all cylinders.

Here are four improvements the Milwaukee Bucks have seen with the addition of Eric Bledsoe.

Point Guard Play

Bledsoe brings what the Bucks have been lacking for a long time. Solid guard play. This gives good passing to Giannis Antetokounmpo and Khris Middleton. Now with guard Malcolm Brogdon, the Bucks can move the ball and continue to work through the offense.  

Defense

Bledsoe brings perimeter defense back to Milwaukee. Before Bledsoe arrived, the Bucks had a defensive rating of 109.5. Now with the addition of Bledsoe the Bucks defensive rating dropped to 103.1. Milwaukee can now force turnovers and create more fastbreak opportunities for players like Antetokounmpo.

Giving the Greek Freak Space

Many predicted that Antetokounmpo would receive less stats as a result of Bledsoe coming to the Bucks. The exact opposite has happened. Bledsoe creates space for Giannis and makes it tougher for defenses to guard both stars at the same time. This creates more open shots and easier opportunities for the young Bucks’ offense.

Winning

The Bucks have won 12 of their last 18 games with Bledsoe and stand a chance in the East. This is exactly what Milwaukee needed to cement their legitimacy of being a true playoff team in the East.

The Bucks continue to impress and play the Charlotte Hornets this Friday at 7 PM.