One of Giannis’ weaknesses has actually become a huge strength of his.

The NBA’s worst nightmare is unfolding as Giannis Antetokounmpo and the Milwaukee Bucks continue to dominate. Following a major victory over the Charlotte Hornets, the Bucks have now won four straight games and six of their last seven.

Individually, Giannis has been on fire, averaging 33.4 points, 11 rebounds, eight assists, and two blocks per game during this stretch, with impressive shooting splits of .608/.250/.667. While the two-time MVP has been leading the charge, key contributions from other players like AJ Green and Gary Trent Jr. off the bench have also played a major role in the team’s success.

The Bucks are now sitting at 8-9, climbing up to the sixth seed in the Eastern Conference and just 2.5 games behind the Orlando Magic in third. Defensively, they’re holding strong, while their offense is thriving. One of the biggest developments, however, has been Giannis’ improvement in an area once considered a weakness—his jump shooting.

Known for his dominance in the paint, Giannis’ jump shot had long been questioned. Critics often pointed to his lack of consistency as a potential flaw, especially when the Bucks struggled. However, Giannis is proving those doubts wrong. Over the past seven games, he has been hitting a remarkable 54.5% of his mid-range shots. In fact, he ranks second in the league for field goal percentage in the mid-range with at least 50 attempts, trailing only DeMar DeRozan, one of the league’s top mid-range shooters.

This newfound shooting ability has added a dangerous dimension to Giannis’ game. Now, defenders can’t just pack the paint and expect to shut him down. The threat of his mid-range game forces teams to reconsider their defensive schemes, giving him more space to operate. This opens up the floor for both Giannis and his teammates, including Damian Lillard, who benefits from the increased room in the paint if he beats his defender.

After a sluggish start to the season, there was speculation about Giannis’ future and the Bucks’ prospects. However, by adding the mid-range shot to his already impressive skill set, Giannis has silenced the critics. As the rest of the team finds its rhythm, the Bucks are proving they should not be overlooked in the Eastern Conference.

Up next for the Bucks is a matchup against the Miami Heat, where it will be interesting to see how Erik Spoelstra uses Bam Adebayo to defend Giannis. After that, the Bucks will face the Washington Wizards, Detroit Pistons, and Atlanta Hawks, all of which are expected to be winnable games. If they continue their strong play, the Bucks will soon be right back in contention, despite the early-season noise surrounding their performance.