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3 Milwaukee Bucks lineups to be excited about in 2022-2023

By Camden Fuller

MILWAUKEE, WISCONSIN - APRIL 17: Brook Lopez #11 of the Milwaukee Bucks wins the jump ball over Nikola Vucevic #9 of the Chicago Bulls to start Game One of the Eastern Conference First Round Playoffs at Fiserv Forum on April 17, 2022 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Stacy Revere/Getty Images)
MILWAUKEE, WISCONSIN - APRIL 17: Brook Lopez #11 of the Milwaukee Bucks wins the jump ball over Nikola Vucevic #9 of the Chicago Bulls to start Game One of the Eastern Conference First Round Playoffs at Fiserv Forum on April 17, 2022 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Stacy Revere/Getty Images) /
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Milwaukee Bucks: Wesley Matthews; Chicago Bulls: Demar DeRozan
CHICAGO, ILLINOIS – APRIL 22: (Photo by Stacy Revere/Getty Images) /

Milwaukee Bucks lineups to be excited about in 2022-2023: The new death lineup

Every team vying for a championship needs a go-to lineup late in games that can hold up on both ends of the floor. On the way to a championship in the 2021, the Bucks leaned heavily on a lineup with Jrue-Pat-Khris-PJ Tucker-Giannis that proved to be incredibly effective, yielding a plus 18 net rating throughout the playoffs. Although this was not the only closing lineup Bud utilized (see Bobby Portis closing out game 6 of the finals), it was still absolutely crucial to winning a title.

Last year, the lack of a go-to closing lineup like the Bucks had in 2021 was glaringly obvious. With Khris injured and Tucker in Miami, the Bucks struggled at times to find the right combinations in close games. This year, the Bucks are poised to have a number of options for a death lineup to shut down opposing offenses. The one I’m most excited about seeing come playoff time is Jrue-Pat-Wesley Matthews-Khris-Giannis.

It goes without saying that Jrue, Pat, Khris, and Giannis are known quantities with championship pedigree. While Matthews and Tucker are different players, it was wonderful to see how well Wesley battled on both ends of the floor, consistently taking the toughest assignments and doing a very, very good job with them. Unfortunately, we very rarely got to see this lineup in action, as injuries limited the amount of time everyone was available at the same time.

However, absent a massive Wesley Matthews decline, there is no reason to believe that he would not slot in perfectly into a 5 man lineup that just won a championship. If he can knock down shots and keep defending at a high level, Matthews may be the key to a return to the top of the mountain and his role in this lineup would be a big part of that journey.

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