Naturally, Damian Lillard’s arrival in Milwaukee has dominated the narrative surrounding the Bucks’ offseason acquisitions. His explosive offensive ability gives the team a transformative quality that can quickly change the direction of a game. But in the midst of all the attention on Lillard, Khris Middleton’s recovery from a difficult 18 months of injuries may prove to be the key to the Bucks’ next championship run.

When Milwaukee signed Lillard, it was obvious what kind of team they were betting big on: offence. It appears as though the hard-fought postseason games where teams were outmatched by one another are behind us. Thanks to their offence, not in spite of it, the Bucks are now in a position to win in the postseason.

After a sluggish start, Lillard is displaying his offensive skill in his new environment. However, in the midst of this noteworthy trade, Middleton’s more subdued return to form is becoming more and more important, as evidenced by the Bucks’ increased scoring.

With an impressive offensive rating of 125.5 through their last 11 games, Milwaukee is nearly four points per 100 possessions ahead of the league-leading Indiana Pacers. If this rate continues, it will also be the highest offensive rating for a whole season in the NBA.

Notably, in this run of prolific play, Middleton has established his shooting rhythm. He played little under 20 minutes a night and averaged 11.6 points, 3.9 rebounds, and 4.2 assists in the first 13 games of the season. His shooting numbers were low, as he appeared to be looking for the form that led to three All-Star selections: he shot only 32 percent from beyond the arc and 46 percent from field goals.