It is pretty safe to say that this has been another whirlwind regular season for the Bucks. It has felt like they’ve had three seasons in one.
From the 2-10 start to beat OKC in the final of the NBA Cup, trading franchise legend Khris Middleton, and everything in between.
One thing has been clear since the start. The Bucks are old. Very old. Damian Lillard is 34 and turns 35 this year. Brook Lopez is 36 and turns 37 this year. Taurean Prince will be 31 later this week. Even Giannis is 31 in December.
The average age went down a little when Middleton was traded for Kyle Kuzma, but even though he is nearly 30 – feels like a spring chicken in this team.
The Bucks need Ryan Rollins and Andre Jackson Jr to provide energy
In the defeat to OKC on Sunday night, Ryan Rollins and Andre Jackson Jr did not play until the fourth quarter, when Doc Rivers emptied the bench. That was seriously alarming and discouraging.
When the Bucks beat OKC in the aforementioned NBA Cup back in December, Jackson Jr started the game and played 26 minutes – bear in mind the benches were emptied with five minutes to go too.
He helped limit OKC, who average 119.6 points per game this season, to just 81 points. Potential MVP SGA – who is averaging 33 points per game this season, and is favourite for MVP – to just 21 points on 8/24 shooting.
Yet, the other night – he was not trusted to play until the game was done. The Bucks won by 16 points in the NBA Cup matchup and lost by the same amount on Sunday night. The stark contrast is clear for all to see, and is definitely not a coincidence.
Rivers has 15 more games to figure out the formula
The regular season is nearly over, with the postseason starting next month. If the Bucks are to go on a deep playoff run, they need the energy of Jackson Jr and/or Rollins in the team. With Jackson Jr, some may say his offence isn’t enough to justify his defence and minutes on the court.
However, Rollins is averaging five points per game, .8 more than Pat Connaughton, despite playing over two and a half minutes fewer per game, whilst providing far more energy and hustle.
So, there is absolutely no excuse for the latter to be in the rotation instead of him. Connaughton is another player on the wrong side of 30 and does not provide the same offence as he did in 2022.
We know that Rivers is not someone who cared for young talent, and prefers his vets. That is probably a big reason why GM Jon Horst saw him as a good fit for this roster.
However, he needs to see what’s good for him, and for the Bucks – and that is to reinstate Rollins and Jackson Jr into the rotation.
The post The two players Doc Rivers needs to reintroduce to rotation for the Bucks, its glaringly obvious appeared first on HITC.
