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Welcome back, Jae: Two important aspects that Crowder will impact in his return to the Bucks’ lineup

Jae's return ignites the Bucks’ critical needs on both ends of the floor.
Matthew Dugandzic|
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Milwaukee Bucks

On Tuesday, it was officially announced that Jae Crowder will formally make his return to the Milwaukee Bucks' lineup on Wednesday against the Cleveland Cavaliers after a lengthy recovery from his core muscle surgery. It took the entire team and the fans to endure a grinding wait in which the veteran exceeded the eight-week timetable that was set upon his healing.

It couldn't be more relieving to see Jae make his comeback, considering that he was arguably the Bucks' best role player before going down. In return, he will truly boost two of the team's most important departments as that championship chase continues.

Outside shooting

This season, the Bucks have been splendid in three-point shooting — a strong key towards their topnotch offensive rating (121.1) that stands as a Top-2 league-wide. As a team, they are draining 38.3 percent of their shots from beyond the arc, which is placed as the third-best this year.

With Jae's return, Milwaukee's efficiency and status from the outside can only get even better. Before being sidelined, the veteran was savoring the most consistent season of his career. Within the 53.2 percent field goal shooting that he has is his spectacular 51.6 percent rate from the three-point land (per 3.4 attempts) — both career-bests.

Even though his shooting posture has to be a must-watch aspect after undergoing a critical surgery that involved his lower body frame, the Bucks will be optimistic that Jae will regain his sweet shooting form.

Perimeter defense

Perhaps the most important category that the Bucks will look forward to getting a significant bump in Jae's return is their perimeter defense.

For the nine games he played for Milwaukee in his pre-injury stage, Crowder boldly assumed the assignment of defending the opposing team's best perimeter players and stars. Holding that reputation as one of the most notable 3-and-D wings, his sudden absence severely affected the Bucks' defense, which has been concerning, and occupies the 19th spot (116.3).

As it should be, Jae will need plenty of time to regain his form and condition after being unavailable for over two months. But once he rediscovers that basketball touch he normally possesses, it will be a major factor in addressing the Bucks' needs in defending the perimeter.

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Matthew Dugandzic
MATTHEW DUGANDZIC

Matthew finished his bachelor's degree in Economics (Management) at the University of Split and got his master's degree in the same field at the University of Zadar. Whether it is playing the game as an undersized 6'3'' power forward or simply watching it, Matthew can't get enough of it. After all, he has been an avid NBA fan since the 2000s. But don't get him wrong, as Matthew still loves the old-school NBA and is a true student of the game. From on-court moments to off-court stuff, whether it's about the stars of modern-day basketball or legends of the game, Matthew covers every category of the NBA world and basketball in general, as long as it makes for an engaging and exciting story.