All good things must come to an end, and the Milwaukee Bucks' recent surge came to a screeching halt in Saturday's clash with the Orlando Magic.
Despite the Bucks and Magic being on the opposite end of the spectrum lately in terms of success, this game was all about Orlando. After trailing for 13 seconds early, the Magic secured the lead on a 3-pointer and never surrendered it again. They built up a lead as large as 17 in this one, and whenever the Bucks made a comeback attempt, the Magic responded with a run of their own.
The Bucks struggled to do much of anything against Orlando, but they made one last valiant attempt at a comeback in the fourth quarter when they went to a particular lineup.
Small ball helps Bucks make a late run against Magic
With 9:12 left in the fourth quarter, the Milwaukee Bucks, trailing by 15, subbed in their superstar in Giannis Antetokounmpo. The lineup consisted of Giannis, Kevin Porter Jr., Taurean Prince, AJ Green and Kyle Kuzma. When the Bucks called a timeout and subbed Damian Lillard in for Green with six minutes left, Milwaukee's deficit was two points.
Just like that, the Bucks were back in the game with a potential-filled lineup on the floor. They didn't get it done down the stretch, with Damian Lillard missing a look at the buzzer that would have won it, but it was this lineup that gave them that opportunity in the first place. In some way, shape or form, it's clear that the Bucks need to keep utilizing these smaller lineups at times.
As Bucks fans have been dreaming about since the trade deadline, the Kuzma-Antetokounmpo duo in the frontcourt in these scenarios creates needed versatility. Unlike Brook Lopez, Giannis at the center spot gives Milwaukee a more mobile big man who can survive being dragged out to the perimeter, and Kuzma can roam as the Greek Freak normally would.
Any combination of players in the first three spots can work, but this particular lineup was interesting because Porter, who had himself yet another great game, gives the team another pesky defender and shot-maker, while Taurean Prince is a quality complementary defender and floor spacer. Lillard can be the main orchestrator on offense, but these players around him can help take pressure off of him.
No one is saying Giannis Antetokounmpo should be Milwaukee's full-time starting five. He shouldn't. However, in games where Brook Lopez - and Milwaukee's defense as a whole - is getting beat to the rim and is having trouble guarding in space, it makes sense to trot out one of the more versatile options this Bucks roster has to offer.
Lineups that feature Antetokounmpo at the five and Kuzma at the four could be a weapon for the Milwaukee Bucks down the stretch. As evidenced by the massive swing against Orlando, this lineup pairing has what it takes to alter a game.
The Bucks suffered a crushing 111-109 loss, and they will have little time to think about it as they take on the Cleveland Cavaliers Sunday.
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