Bucks have a knack for thriving under pressure

Milwaukee Journal Sentinel

Bucks guard Malcolm Brogdon is playing well as a starter and as a reserve.

Leading by one with 3 1/2 minutes left on Monday afternoon against the Washington Wizards, there was no stress in the Milwaukee Bucks' huddle. This position wasn't anything new.

This particular situation — a tight game, in Washington, on the second game of a back-to-back following a loss — had cropped up earlier this month and the Bucks were able to come through with a win. They did so again on Monday.

But handling pressure-packed, difficult situations isn't something the Bucks have only done against the Wizards. They've spent the first 43 games of the season coming through with clutch plays in the moments that count and handling difficult turns of the schedule with aplomb.

“We got great character guys in the room that never shy away from the pressure and we need that," Eric Bledsoe said.

According to 82games.com, the Bucks have played in 26 close games thus far, which are defined as contests within five points at any time in the final five minutes. In those games, Milwaukee has a 16-10 record, translating to a win percentage of 61.5%, ranking sixth in the league.

When it comes to the second game of back-to-backs, the Bucks have been similarly successful, building a record of 6-3, including three straight wins — each on the road, with one against the Oklahoma City Thunder and two against the Wizards.

The two against the Wizards each came following a dismal performance the night before, with the Bucks quickly turning things around to knock off a team they're trying to catch in the standings.

Heading into a rematch against the Miami Heat at 7 p.m. Wednesday at the BMO Harris Bradley Center, the Bucks will need to figure out how to bottle up what's made them successful in Washington.

“It’s one of the hardest things in this league to do is be consistent, and we are struggling with that," Bucks coach Jason Kidd said after Monday's win. "Hopefully, this can help us get to that point of being consistent on both ends.”

Back in stride: Bucks wing Khris Middleton knew exactly what he needed to do. In the AmericanAirlines Arena locker room following Sunday's 97-79 loss to the Heat — a game in which he shot 3 of 16 to slip to 5 of 28 over a two-game span — Middleton knew he had relied too heavily on the three-point shot.

He needed to make a change.

Middleton did just that on Monday, attacking the paint, posting up and taking comfortable shots, going 5 of 9 in the first half alone. He finished with 19 points on 9-of-16 shooting, only taking one three-pointer — which came on an open, in-rhythm shot from the corner.

“I feel like that’s the biggest part of my game, my biggest strength," Middleton, a career 39.2% three-point shooter who is at 34.0% this season, said of shots inside the arc.

"Those types of shots give me rhythm for the three-ball. I’ve got to find a way to get those, get more pick-and-rolls and just get to my spots and posting up more.”

In the flow: Malcolm Brogdon has been back in the Bucks' starting lineup for six games, and he admits it's taken some getting used to. He opened the season as the team's starting point guard until Bledsoe arrived via trade from the Phoenix Suns, sending Brogdon to the bench.

Since then, Brogdon had started just one before this recent stretch, getting the nod on November 22 in Phoenix when Giannis Antetokounmpo missed the contest due to right knee soreness.

“It’s an adjustment," Brogdon said. "Eric is a guy that’s easy to play with because he’s such a threat. You’ve just got to be ready to catch a shoot, got to be ready to catch and make a quick decision. Whatever my role is I’m going to adjust to it and try to do it the best I can.”

Over the six games, the Bucks haven't consistently started well, but have compiled a 3-3 record. Brogdon has been both a starter and a closer, averaging 14.0 points, 5.5 rebounds and 3.3 assists while shooting 50% from the field and doing a lot of his work inside on strong drives and efficient layups.

He sees strength in the new lineup. It means Tony Snell, more of a spot shooter reliant on other players to get the bulk of his shots, goes to the bench while the starting unit is teeming with players who can make plays.

“I think it helps us, I think it makes us dangerous," Brogdon said. "Everybody can really create their own shot and it makes us really hard to match up with.”