Although a win over the Utah Jazz got the Milwaukee Bucks back in the win column after a six-game losing streak, the joy from that victory didn't last long.
The following night, the Bucks were mercilessly beaten by the New York Knicks, who threw haymaker after haymaker until Doc Rivers threw in the towel in the fourth. Milwaukee is now just 2-7 on the year, and while there are rumors that they are scouting for help via trade, people should not get their hopes up that the cavalry is coming anytime soon. Milwaukee's limited assets will make any deal a hard sell.
This loss to Knicks highlighted several prominent issues with this Milwaukee team, and in an effort to correct at least one of them, it might be time for Rivers to utilize a high-risk change.
The Bucks' recent reliance on youth must be amplified
Lately, understanding his team needs more youth, athleticism and hustle, Doc Rivers has started to give younger players more time. Andre Jackson Jr. and AJ Green have seen significant increases in playing time, and while it is not resulting in many wins, it is helping this team more than just living and dying with the veterans. Rivers should not stop there; it's time to use even more of the youth.
This game - as well as many more this season - exposed that Brook Lopez and Bobby Portis simply do not have the athletic ability or speed to keep up with most modern big men. New York Knicks big man Karl Anthony-Towns finished with 32 points, a game-high, and flat-out feasted on this duo from start to finish. It made both Lopez and Portis virtually unplayable.
It doesn't help that both players are also having poor offensive seasons, with Brook Lopez having his least-productive year, while Portis throws a wrench in things almost every trip down the floor due to his inability to throw a rock in the ocean. The floor spacing these two used to provide helped this team win an NBA championship back in the day. These days, it's plaguing everyone.
Even if it comes at the cost of experience, the Milwaukee Bucks must combat these issues by adding something new into the rotation: A big man who can add hustle and athleticism into this rotation. This has worked on the wing with Jackson and Green, and with Milwaukee's overall struggles persisting, it wouldn't hurt to try it in the frontcourt also.
Looking at the roster, the two bigs who come to mind are Liam Robbins and Tyler Smith. Both players are rookies with little to no experience, but there's no denying their potential. The 7-foot Robbins was an eye-catching player in the preseason, flexing his worth as a mobile big with a nice jumper. Smith was drafted due to his freakish athleticism and smooth jumper at 6-foot-11.
Rather than living and dying by Lopez and Portis getting picked on, Doc Rivers might as well empty the clip entirely and try something off the wall. If Rivers were to do this, these two young players would certainly make mistakes, but that's part of the growth process. In the case of Lopez and Portis, it's not a matter of growing. You cannot grow athletically at the point they are at in their careers.
Need any more reasons to possibly give one of these young guys more time? Well, check out what they did against the Knicks in this very game. While it was in mop-up duty, Smith nearly did more than Portis and Lopez combined, finishing with 10 points, two blocks and two rebounds in eight minutes. Robbins had two points, three boards and a steal in that same timeframe. The potential is there.
To be clear, Robbins and Smith will not replace Lopez and Portis in the rotation entirely. However, if the veteran duo is getting taken advantage of like they were against New York, it undoubtedly would not hurt to give one or both of these two an extended look.
Rivers has - for some reason - used a lineup that features Portis and Lopez often lately, and that's a dream for opposing offenses with quick guards. Rather than using this pairing, it would make sense for one of Smith or Robbins to be in there to provide at least some athleticism and hustle. He cannot keep using his current frontcourt rotations.
At 2-7, nothing should be off limits.
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