After a 25-game absence that felt much longer than it actually was, the Milwaukee Bucks finally got their energy guy back.
Bobby Portis wasted no time reminding everyone who he is. In his return against Minnesota, he poured in 18 points, grabbed 10 boards and helped fuel Milwaukee’s comeback from 24 down in a gritty 110-103 win. He was abrasive, emotional and undeniably impactful. And for better or for worse, he proved that he's still exactly who he's been for the Milwaukee Bucks, for better or for worse.
But his return raises a legitimate question: What happens to Jericho Sims?
Jericho Sims made the most of his limited minutes for the Bucks
While Portis was out, Sims carved out a role that brought a different flavor to Milwaukee’s frontcourt. He’s not a scorer, but he gave the Bucks something they badly needed: a live-body lob threat and switchable defender at the center position. It was only a few weeks, but, for what feels like the first time in the Giannis Antetokounmpo era, the Milwaukee Bucks genuinely had a modern, switchable big to pair next to the Greek Freak.
That’s something Portis, for all his strengths, has simply never offered this team.
Sims isn’t the polished veteran Bobby is. He’s raw, limited offensively and nowhere near the emotional heartbeat of this team. But he brings athleticism and vertical spacing that Milwaukee just doesn’t have outside of Giannis. His ability to slide on the perimeter and finish above the rim gave the Bucks some of their best two-way stretches in the last few weeks.
Now that Portis is back, the backup center spot might be his again by default. But if the Bucks are serious about versatility and athleticism in the playoffs, they’ll need to find minutes for Sims, especially against faster teams with spread-out attacks, when he returns from injury.
Portis is still exactly who he’s always been: a walking bucket, a tone-setter and a playoff-tested piece of Milwaukee’s core identity. But he's also prone to low IQ mistakes, and inefficient post-up isolations, while being rather slow-footed for his size and unathletic for his position. Sims brought something new, and the Milwaukee Bucks would be wise not to throw that away.
Two things can be true: the Bucks need what Portis can bring, but they also need what Sims has shown he can bring to the table, both in the immediate and the distant future.
Doc Rivers has not been the best at providing answers to the roster questions. As it is, there are holes at the point guard spot and the wing positions that are in need of answers from the head tactician. But this is one that will demand an answer sooner or later. The Milwaukee Bucks' playoff hopes might just depend on it.
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