It's official. Taurean Prince has undergone surgery to address a herniated disc in his neck, and there is no clear-cut return date set. With Prince out for the time being, the Bucks, who were already thin at the small forward spot, will need others to rise to the occasion. The player with the biggest spotlight on them is Amir Coffey, a fellow small forward who will surely see an uptick in minutes.
Bucks need Amir Coffey to fill Taurean Prince's shoes
Prince had been Doc Rivers' go-to small forward off the bench this year, but Amir Coffey was second in line. Now, Coffey is the next man up. Simply, there isn't anywhere else the Bucks can turn. AJ Green and Gary Trent Jr. are undersized and already playing major minutes. Thanasis Antetokounmpo isn't playing a major role anytime soon. Playing Kyle Kuzma out of position isn't the right move.
It's Coffey or bust for the Milwaukee Bucks. Unfortunately, the forward, who many thought was one of the biggest steals of the summer, hasn't put too much impressive tape on the highlight reel this year.
In 12 contests, Coffey is averaging a measly 1.5 points and 1.2 rebounds while shooting 14.3 percent from downtown. He makes nice plays here and there, such as a nice rebound or a decent pass, but for the most part, it's been difficult to tell if Coffey has logged 10 minutes or none at all. This brutal trend simply cannot continue if Coffey is set to take Prince's place in the lineup.
It's difficult to believe that this is the same player who averaged a career-high 9.7 points while hitting 40.9 percent of his triples last season. The good news -- at least hypothetically -- in that regard is that Coffey isn't too far removed from being that player. Perhaps he's still adjusting to playing in a new spot for the first time in his NBA career after six years in Los Angeles.
Coffey sliding into Prince's role starts with finding his outside shot. As a Buck, Prince has become a staple under Rivers due to his floor spacing ability, shooting 43.8 percent from deep. If Coffey goes on a heater and gets himself back up to that level, his presence will finally start to be felt. Of course, he can further make an impact by providing serviceable defense on the wing.
Doc Rivers is a fan of Amir Coffey. He clearly trusts him. Time will tell if the wing can repay that trust.
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