Forbes is still finding his role with Bucks
In re-shaping the 2020-21 Milwaukee Bucks roster, general manager Jon Horst said a priority was to increase his team's ability to create – and make – shots alongside Giannis Antetokounmpo and Khris Middleton.
To help with that, one acquisitions was 27-year-old guard Bryn Forbes on a two-year, $4.7 million deal. Forbes came by way of San Antonio, where he was of one just three Spurs to make 250 three-pointers in his first three years. He set a franchise record with seven made threes in the first half of a game (he was tied for first with three other players with six before then) and finished his four years there having made 40% of his career attempts from beyond the three-point line.
In his last two seasons in San Antonio, Forbes started 143 of the 145 games he played and averaged 26.7 minutes per game. He didn't shoot a ton – just under 10 field goal attempts per game – but averaged 11.5 points by hitting 40.8% of his threes.
“It's an excellent fit,” Detroit coach Dwane Casey said of Forbes' addition. “So much of this league is not about talent and who can play or who can't play, especially when you have a star player like Giannis. It's the fit. And they've done a good job of adding excellent fits around him and Forbes is one of ‘em.”
Forbes knew coming to Milwaukee might mean a change in his role, but 15 games into the season he is still trying to settle into the perfect fit. Forbes is averaging 16.1 minutes per game and 6.1 field goal attempts and is shooting 41.2% from three for 7.1 points per game. The Bucks host the Atlanta Hawks at 7 p.m. Sunday at Fiserv Forum
“It's different,” Forbes said. “It's different than anything I've known but I'm trying to adjust right now. I'm kind of in the middle of adjusting to the role and trying to get the most out of those minutes and that role and bring what I do best and help us win games. So that's been my focus. But yeah, it's something new, it's something I've had to focus on and try to adjust to.”
Forbes said coming off the bench has required a different mindset, and he's taken to working through the early parts of the game mentally, watching how teams defend the pick and roll and handoffs. Within that, he's tried to balance finding a natural flow to the game against trying too hard to make something happen when he checks in.
“I think there might be a little bit of a learning curve, you now, to kind of like feel it out,” Forbes acknowledged. “This is something, a role I've never been put into. I think right now I'm just
kind of feeling it out, figuring it out and trying to find my times to be aggressive and assertive and then find my times to let it flow. I think once I get it, it should work. But right now I'm just trying to figure it out.”
That said, there has been some definition to his role.
Forbes has opened the second and fourth quarters on the court in every game and often plays alongside Antetokounmpo. According to the league's lineup tracker, Forbes has played 113 of his 242 minutes (and in 11 different lineup combinations) with the two-time MVP.
The duo have quickly formed a relationship with their pick-and-roll game that has paid dividends – particularly when the 6-foot-11-inch Antetokounmpo is initiating the offense at the top of the three-point line and the 6-2 Forbes is his screener.
It's a play Antetokounmpo has run for years with a variety of shooters from Malcom Brogdon to Kyle Korver, and it stresses a defense in several ways.
“He can shoot the ball really, really well,” Antetokounmpo said of Forbes. “He's willing to set screens, willing to sacrifice his body. Physically he's strong he can actually set a good screen to the four man and still be able to flip out for the shot. He's smart enough to read my eyes and know where I want to go and which way I want him to come set it. We're building a good chemistry with him, obviously with him and Donte (DiVincenzo) and with Pat (Connaughton) and all those guys.
“I think it works. It works. Guys want to be in front of me and keep out of the paint, if they slip out they're wide open. They're always wide open. It's up to them if they're gonna make the shot and that's kind of night it's gonna be.”
Added Forbes: “Giannis draws a crazy amount of attention. I remember when we played him when he would drive everybody had to be in the paint almost. So, just with that obviously there's going to be a lot of open shots. Giannis, I didn't know was this good of facilitator, but he makes the game so much easier and fun for me that it's kind of natural. It just kind of came along naturally.”
That play has not only set Forbes up with open shots from Antetokounmpo's assists, but Forbes' strong screens have allowed Antetokounmpo to burst around him and find an open lane for a dunk.
Then, of late, it's been Antetokounmpo setting the screens.
Forbes may still be searching for his overall level within the team, but the Bucks have already benefited from how quickly he and Antetokounmpo have jelled in the two-man game.
“His knowledge I think has helped me a lot 'cause after a play, whether it's successful or unsuccessful, whether it's a pick-and-roll or handoff, we'll talk about it, like what we should do next time, this, that or the other,” Forbes said.
“Not only setting screens but passing as well. If it is a handoff, putting it in the right place. He's done pretty well at that and he's made it easy for me to get into my shot and get open 'cause everybody's worried about him and those bigs are playing back so far that it's just twoon-one up there. He's done a great job. I've gotten a lot of open looks because of that.”