Milwaukee Bucks: Takeaways from 112-102 loss to Dallas Mavericks
By Dalton Sell
No. 1 – Bobby Portis made a strong first impression with the Bucks
Bobby Portis had not played in an organized NBA game since the hiatus ended his season in March earlier this year. Portis was certainly eager to get back on the court with over nine months off, and it showed against the Mavericks.
The big man got off to a slow start but quickly got into a groove, hustling for loose balls, hitting tough shots, and throwing down some vicious slam dunks. In the end, Portis finished with 14 points on 7-for-15 shooting and 13 rebounds in 21 minutes.
Portis foreshadowed his relentlessness earlier this week as he spoke to the media, telling them that coming off the bench was something he took pride in.
"“I’m a guy that has always come off the bench my whole career. I might start here and there when guys are hurt or things happen, but for the most part of my career, I’ve come off the bench. I take pride in that. Coming in, try to change the game, bringing energy and effort, bringing scoring off the bench as well, and just doing all of the things that’s necessary to help a basketball team.”"
He indeed showcased those resilient qualities in Milwaukee’s first preseason game and his first basketball action following such a long layoff. Although the night ended in a loss, Portis gave Bucks fans something to cheer for, and he undoubtedly made a strong first impression in his Bucks debut.
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Bobby Portis might have earned himself fan-favorite status for his Saturday night outing, but time will tell if the big man can sustain these tenacious efforts throughout the season.