The Bucks Navigate Middleton's Return Amid Injury Concerns
The Milwaukee Bucks are treading carefully with Khris Middleton, opting to move the star forward to the bench amid his ongoing struggle with injuries. This latest development comes after Doc Rivers, before a matchup against the San Antonio Spurs, confirmed Middleton's new role, aiming to balance the 32-year-old's health with team performance goals.
"He's just not moving every night the way you like him to. One night, you see he's moving great, one night he's not," Rivers commented on Middleton’s fluctuating condition. Acknowledging that Middleton has not been at his best physically, the Bucks are making strategic moves to ensure he regains full health.
Middleton's plight is all too familiar as he battles ankle tendinitis, an ailment that recently sidelined him during the Bucks' victory against the Toronto Raptors. This follows a tough offseason marked by double ankle surgery, and a history of surgeries on his left wrist, right knee, and both ankles. These tribulations have stifled Middleton's on-court impact since his season debut on December 6 against the Boston Celtics.
Since returning to the roster, the Bucks have held a 3-4 record with Middleton back in the mix, but concerns about his and the team's performances persist. The Bucks' primary starting lineup, which includes Middleton, has posted a concerning minus-10.6 net rating over just 31 minutes. Moreover, the once formidable trio of Middleton, Giannis Antetokounmpo, and Damian Lillard, when playing together, has recorded a minus-5.6 net rating across 96 minutes. This is a stark contrast to last season's impressive plus-17.5 net rating for the same lineup.
Middleton's health issues have prompted the Bucks to carefully manage his minutes to preserve his long-term well-being. Taurean Prince filled in as the starter in Middleton's absence against the Raptors, and it's a potential strategy the Bucks might employ whenever they need to rest Middleton or minimize his playing time.
Despite the setback, Middleton remains optimistic and sets high standards for himself as he navigates through this recovery phase. "Having a successful season out there is playing damn near 82 games... Anything below 70, 75 games, no, I do not consider that a successful season for me," Middleton expressed, underlining his desire to contribute significantly to the team’s success.
The Bucks are clearly in a delicate balancing act. Maximizing Middleton's contributions while attending to his health requires careful orchestration and may necessitate some on-the-fly adjustments. As the Bucks look to unlock the full potential of their roster, all eyes will be on Rivers and his coaching staff to navigate this challenging scenario—striking a prudent balance between preserving Middleton's career and aiming for championship-level performance.