3 Improvements that helped Milwaukee Bucks mount a Championship run in the 2020-21 NBA Season

#2 The Milwaukee Bucks improved their collective free-throw shooting led by Giannis Antetokounmpo.

The Bucks have always struggled to knock it down from the charity stripe.

Even though the Milwaukee Bucks shot 76% from the free-throw line as a team, which was the amongst the worst in the league during the regular season, they made sure to knock them down when it mattered most. Giannis went 15-17 from the free-throw line in Game 6 of the NBA Finals.

The free-throw disparity was even more glaring in home and away games. It makes sense when the crowd is hell bent on counting every second of Giannis' existence on the line.

Free-shooting was an even bigger concern than realized at first, as the Milwaukee Bucks got fouled an average 18.3 times per game.

It’s @Giannis_An34 Giannis Antetokounmpo working on his free throws as the @Bucks begin a six game home stretch in 11 days #Bucks pic.twitter.com/9Yq8W9pVh9

— Lance Allan (@lanceallan) November 13, 2018

While Holiday and Middleton continued their free-throw prowess throughout the year, the Greek Freak - who got the lion's share of FT attempts - made gradual tweaks to knock them down at a respectable clip as well.

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#3 The champs clamped down on ball handlers and also elevated their fastbreak defensive intensity.

The Bucks were down 0-2 in the Finals before they won four consecutive.

Chris Paul is a master at handling offenses and running the best play at each possession. From games 2 to 4, the 'Point God' had 15 turnovers, which is by far the most he has ever had in a playoff series since 2012.

Not only did Jrue Holiday hound the 35-year-old from mid-court, but the Milwaukee Bucks' help defense was at lock-step with everyone on the floor at all times. Throwing the hustle of PJ Tucker on the opponent's guards wore them down heavily.

It was only fitting that the highlight play which was the exclamation mark of the Suns-Bucks Finals, was initiated by a picture-perfect steal from Jrue Holiday on Chris Paul, ending in an alley-oop dunk by the Freak.

The game-clinching steal in Game 5... Jrue Holiday's HUSTLE and DEFENSE has been on display all postseason long! Don't miss PHX/MIL Game 6 tonight at 9pm/et on ABC pic.twitter.com/NzGGii20PI

— NBA (@NBA) July 20, 2021

Plays like these underlined the Milwaukee Bucks' increased intensity on defense, with the ability to not foul in clutch situations. The infectious precision to strip the ball from the league's best playmakers is an art that requires more of intuition than quickness.