As the Milwaukee Bucks head into the All-Star break, Doc Rivers has a critical decision to make: who should start at the two-guard spot when the team is fully healthy? The choice boils down to two young players with vastly different skill sets—Andre Jackson Jr. and AJ Green.
Jackson brings elite defense and energy but has struggled offensively (and seems to only be getting worse with each game), while Green offers elite shooting but lacks the size and defensive prowess of his more stout and lengthy counterpart.
With the addition of Kyle Kuzma, the Bucks’ needs have shifted, and Rivers must weigh the pros and cons of each option carefully. The decision could have major implications for the team’s playoff push and overall chemistry going forward, and the time to lock in your five starters is now.
Jackson and Green both have compelling cases for the starting spot
Andre Jackson Jr. has been a revelation on the defensive end this season. At 6-foot-6 with a 6-foot-10 wingspan and elite athleticism, Jackson has the tools to be a lockdown defender. He’s shown the ability to guard multiple positions, disrupt passing lanes and make life difficult for opposing wings. His energy and hustle have also been contagious, providing a spark for the Bucks in key moments.
However, Jackson’s offensive limitations are hard to ignore. He’s averaging just 3.9 points, 3.2 rebounds, and 1.5 assists per game as a starter. He's shooting what looks to be an incredibly competent 38.6 percent from three for the season, but that's on just a little over one attempt per game.
The truth is that his shooting mechanics have always been clunky, and his lack of a reliable jumper has made him a liability in half-court sets, as evidenced by his 0.87 points per possession in plays that have him as the spot-up shooter, which is good for the 16th percentile in his position.
The eye test proves this statistic to be true: defenses very often sag off him, choosing instead to focus their energies on clogging driving lanes for Giannis Antetokounmpo and Damian Lillard. While Jackson’s defense is elite, his offensive struggles have raised questions about whether he’s ready to be a full-time starter on a championship-contending team.
What's disheartening here is that he sometimes looks like he's ready to take the next step as an offensive player, only to fall back into inconsistency again in the next few games.
AJ Green, on the other hand, is the polar opposite of Jackson.
At 6-foot-4, Green lacks the size and athleticism to be an elite defender, but he more than makes up for it with his shooting. Green is shooting a blistering 42.7 percent from three this season, making him one of the most efficient shooters not just on the team but in the entire association. His ability to space the floor is a perfect fit alongside Giannis, Kuzma and Lillard, as it forces defenses to stay honest and opens up driving lanes for the Milwaukee Bucks’ stars.
The downside to Green is his defense. While he’s far from a complete liability, he lacks the size and lateral quickness to guard elite wings and guards. He competes hard, yes, but at the end of the day, you can't teach size. It isn't hard to imagine that in a playoff series, opposing teams would likely target him in isolation, putting additional pressure on the Milwaukee Bucks’ defense.
Still, Green’s shooting has been so valuable to this Bucks team's best moments throughout the season thus far that it might outweigh his defensive shortcomings, especially with the addition of Kyle Kuzma, who can help shoulder the defensive load.
While the answer so far has been to go with Jackson's defensive upside, the acquisition of Kyle Kuzma changes the calculus for the Milwaukee Bucks.
Kuzma’s versatility on both ends of the floor gives the Bucks more flexibility in their lineup decisions. He can guard multiple positions, score in isolation and stretch the floor, making him an ideal complement to Giannis and Lillard. With Kuzma in the fold, the Milwaukee Bucks might not need Jackson’s defense as much as they once did, opening the door for Green to start and provide much-needed spacing.
The Bucks’ starting lineup needs to strike a balance between offense and defense. With Giannis and Lillard handling the bulk of the scoring, the Bucks need role players who can complement their stars without being a liability on either end of the floor. Jackson’s defense is elite, but his offensive limitations could hurt the Bucks in the playoffs, where every possession matters. Green’s shooting is a perfect fit, but his defense could be exploited by elite teams.
There's simply no easy answer to Milwaukee's shooting guard conundrum
Rivers has a tough decision to make, but the answer might lie in matchup-based adjustments. Against teams with elite wings, Jackson’s defense might be more valuable, while Green’s shooting could be the difference-maker against teams that pack the paint.
Doc Rivers has a crucial decision to make during the All-Star break: should AJ Green or Andre Jackson Jr. start at the two-guard spot? Both players bring unique strengths and weaknesses, and the addition of Kyle Kuzma adds another layer of complexity to the decision. Ultimately, the choice will come down to what Rivers values more: offense or defense.
The Bucks’ championship hopes could hinge on this decision. If Rivers gets it right, the Bucks could have the perfect lineup to make a deep playoff run. If he gets it wrong, it could be another early exit for a team with championship aspirations. The pressure is on, and the clock is ticking. What will Doc Rivers do? Time will tell.
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