Milwaukee Bucks: 3 lessons from loss to Los Angeles Lakers

The importance of guard play off the bench

Very much related to the concerns surrounding what the Bucks will get from their other key starters, and Bledsoe in particular, is the quality of contributions Milwaukee will be able to call upon from the bench.

In their previous meeting against the Lakers this season, with Bledsoe out injured, George Hill stepped up with 21 points off the bench while Donte DiVincenzo filled in as a starter. On Friday, it was DiVincenzo who delivered 17 off the bench, while Hill was sidelined through injury.

With Bledsoe struggling, the Bucks greatly missed Hill’s ability to create offense for himself and his teammates. DiVincenzo provided a major boost – more than can realistically be expected of him to deliver on a nightly basis — but that wasn’t enough on its own.

The Bucks should take solace in knowing that as DiVincenzo continues to thrive, they increasingly have two outstanding two way guards that they’ll be able to lean on during the playoffs.

Milwaukee will also need both healthy, though, as a repeat of Bledsoe’s play from the last two postseasons, or indeed a game like Friday night, could plausibly see Hill and DiVincenzo become the Bucks’ two most important guards when it matters most.