Milwaukee Bucks: 3 things they will miss most from P.J. Tucker
By Dalton Sell
The Milwaukee Bucks will miss P.J. Tucker’s defensive prowess
Arguably the biggest reason why the Bucks traded for Tucker in the first place was to improve their defense. Ultimately, the front office was right to push their chips to the center of the table mid-season as Tucker’s defense would be useful all throughout the postseason.
While the team utilized him in every round, it was most prevalent in their second round series with the Brooklyn Nets. Tucker was assigned to guard Kevin Durant, who is one of the greatest scorers to ever touch a basketball. While he did not stop the forward by any means, Tucker made every bucket from KD a tough one by playing some of the best defense of his career. Without his dire defense throughout that series, the Bucks do not win in seven games and they certainly do not go on and win the title.
The team will miss that defensive presence next season. While both Antetokounmpo and Holiday are All-Defensive caliber defenders, Tucker was their versatile piece. He could guard the opposing team’s best offensive player and allow Milwaukee’s other defenders to work elsewhere, which clearly proved to be a winning formula. Without Tucker, they will be missing that hole in their roster this coming season. While Ojeleye has the potential to be a key piece defensively, he is not Tucker, as previously mentioned.
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Losing Tucker is a tough blow for the Bucks, particularly as it seems like it came on their own accord. Nevertheless, they will have to defend their title next season without him in the fold.