Bucks' Teletovic reaping benefits of fast-break opportunities
The Milwaukee Bucks are a team that likes to get out and run. Everyone knows that every steal or rebound is an opportunity to push the pace, which is when Giannis Antetokounmpo especially is at his most dangerous.
While Antetokounmpo, Malcolm Brogdon, Khris Middleton and Matthew Dellavedova are among the most likely candidates to be at the head of the pack with the ball in their hands, everyone is expected to race ahead in support.
For the Bucks' shooters, the destination isn't to the hoop or trailing behind the ball.
“For us (it’s) the corners," Mirza Teletovic said. "J-Kidd was talking to me a lot, ‘Make sure when they’re running you be in the corner and be first.’
"For that, I dropped a lot of weight and have been working on conditioning a lot, working a lot on those kinds of shots. Basically preparing for Giannis and Khris and Jabari (Parker) when he comes back, the guys who take the ball and drive it.”
This strategy was performed to perfection Monday in the late stages of the third quarter against the Charlotte Hornets. Dellavedova corralled a missed shot by Charlotte's Malik Monk and immediately turned to run, crossing halfcourt with 22 seconds still on the shot clock. Teletovic and Greg Monroe were right behind, with Teletovic fanning out to the corner and Monroe darting into the paint.
Antetokounmpo came next, going right down the middle, where he caught a pass from Dellavedova a few steps above the free-throw line. Knowing Teletovic was already slotted in the corner, Antetokounmpo took a dribble then bounced a behind-the-back pass to Teletovic, who knocked down the three-pointer.
It was Teletovic's first made corner three-point attempt in two tries this season, though he expects there will be more. He leads the team with nine treys on 19 attempts (47.4%) after knocking down five Monday.
After struggling in his first season in Milwaukee, Teletovic is feeling more comfortable on both sides of the ball. He's also reaping the benefits of playing more alongside Antetokounmpo with what he feels are even more open looks.
"To have Giannis doing what he does and drawing attention toward him … when he kicks it out I have to be confident to make those shots," Teletovic said.
Brogdon still out: Brogdon remained unable to fully participate in the team's practice Tuesday due to a sprained left ankle. He did not miss the practice entirely, though.
“He did some shooting today and that was it," coach Jason Kidd said at the team's downtown practice facility. "We’ll see how he feels (Wednesday) and go from there.”
If Brogdon's ankle does not sufficiently improve for him to play in Thursday's 7 p.m. game against the Boston Celtics at UW-Milwaukee Panther Arena for the team's "Return to the MECCA" game, the Bucks have a backup plan at point guard.
Kidd will keep Gary Payton II, one of the team's two-way players, on the active roster if Brogdon remains out. Payton was at the Bucks' practice Tuesday while the Wisconsin Herd's training camp was in its second day in Oshkosh.
“When you can have the luxury to have someone who was in your system from last year and you don't have to teach him or show him everything, it just gives us the advantage of having him," Kidd said.
Payton provides depth at point guard but played just 3 1/2 minutes in Monday's victory over the Hornets. That's partially because Kidd tried something new, using lineups with DeAndre Liggins, who made a positive impression in his Bucks debut Saturday, running the point or handling point-guard duties on defense while Antetokounmpo ran the offense.
“With Liggins on the floor you can play Giannis and play Giannis as the point guard and Liggins off the ball, so that’s one scenario we’ve looked at," Kidd said. "Just giving Liggins some comfort with Giannis on the floor.”
Early rest: Over the past two games, Kidd has intentionally given Antetokounmpo an early hook in the opening minutes of the first quarter. The plan, which is aimed at managing Antetokounmpo's minutes, is subject to change as Kidd tries to find the system that works best.
“I’m trying something different here early in the season," Kidd said. "Trying to get Mirza involved, also trying to keep Giannis’ minutes down. It’s not quite working out the way I wanted it to (in terms of limiting Antetokounmpo's minutes), but getting Mirza in early has definitely helped us.”
Through four games Antetokounmpo has logged 154 minutes, most in the league.
http://www.jsonline.com/story/sports/nba/bucks/2017/10/24/bucks-teletovic-reaping-benefits-fast-break-opportunities/792416001/
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