Milwaukee Bucks: 5 Biggest Questions Following Jabari Parker Injury News
By Adam McGee
How Will The Starting Lineup Shape Up For The Rest Of The Season?
This is a discussion that seems somewhat hollow in light of the potential long-term impact of this news, but still it’s one that the team will need to address in the coming weeks and months. Not only will it be important for that span of time, but also to give them a sense of what they plan to do for over half of next season too.
The two most obvious options to replace Parker as a starter are Mirza Teletovic and Michael Beasley, and I’d expect Kidd to go with one of those options.
Although his shooting has been far from consistent and his play has been a source of regular frustration for fans of late, Teletovic would seem like the better fit for the two considering how the Bucks will be playing and how opponents will now look to counter Milwaukee.
With no opportunity to stagger two stars (at least until Middleton is clear of minutes restrictions) like they did with Giannis and Jabari, the second unit would seem likely to have a more pressing need for Beasley’s playmaking. With Giannis set to draw more attention than ever before, Teletovic’s gravity and floor spacing could be vital to ensuring that there remains open driving lanes for the Greek Freak to attack.
Alternatively, when Middleton does return to full game shape, the logical move might be to keep Tony Snell in the starting lineup and to team Snell and Middleton as a two-three tandem.