Milwaukee Bucks: 3 takeaways from 112-109 win over Dallas Mavericks
By Dalton Sell
Milwaukee Bucks versus Dallas Mavericks takeaway No. 2 – Reserves continue showing their impact
The Bucks’ remodeled bench has been one of their strong suits early this year. In particular, Bobby Portis, Bryn Forbes, and D.J. Augustin have been the three that have made the most impactful difference throughout 13 games.
When these three and the rest of the second unit have clicked offensively, the Bucks are tough to beat. However, when the reserves find themselves struggling from the floor, the Bucks oftentimes find themselves with their backs against the wall. Although it resulted in a victory, Friday’s game against the Dallas Mavericks undoubtedly fit into the latter category as they managed to chip in just 23 points on 8-of-19 shooting.
Through 13 games, Milwaukee’s bench has proven how impactful they can be when they are firing on all cylinders. Friday’s subpar showing decreased their numbers without question, but the team currently ranks 13th in the NBA with 37.7 bench points per game.
A substantial portion of these points typically come from sixth man Bobby Portis, who is making a name for himself relatively quickly in Milwaukee. However, he finished with just his third single-digit scoring outing of the season with eight points on 3-of-8 shooting.
Portis and the rest of the reserves were far below their typical quota against the Mavericks, and it showed on the scoreboard in this wire-to-wire victory. The bench could very well be the difference-maker for the Bucks, and games such as this one showcase just how important they can be.