Bobby Portis is having a rough season, to say the very least, and his constant post-ups aren't helping the cause. On the year, Portis is shooting a vile 3-of-12 on post-up tries. Among 34 players to qualify, Portis has the second-worst success rate on his post-ups in the league, connecting on 25 percent of them, per NBA.com/stats. That's not a recipe for success, especially on this new-look roster.
Bucks need Portis to refine his game or get left behind
There were questions about Bobby Portis' fit on this roster long before the season began. With the team built around youth, athleticism, pace, and versatile basketball, it was fair to wonder where the slow-footed Portis might fit. So far, that answer has been nowhere. He looks misplaced on both sides of the floor, struggling to find his place.
The post-ups have been brutal. While the rest of the Milwaukee Bucks typically want to play fast and swing the ball around, Portis often posts up and drains the clock to settle for a less than ideal attempt to score. Given that he's 3-of-12, it's clearly not working. In addition to throwing off his own rhythm, it also disrupts the team and takes away momentum if the Bucks are in a groove.
In 2023-24, Portis' post-ups were excellent. He shot a blistering 51.1 percent on them. It was crucial for a Milwaukee team that needed a spark off the bench. That production helped fuel what was yet another top-three finish in the Sixth Man of the Year race. However, while the rest of the Bucks have moved on to this new style, Portis is still trying to rekindle that magic.
Where Portis should truly focus on making an impact is the 3-point. This team has made it clear that they want to shoot the long ball often. However, he hasn't been much better from there this season, shooting 34.5 percent. That's the lowest mark since his second year in the NBA. Still, it's been better than the post-ups, so he should cut out that shot and ramp up the 3-point attempts.
It's still early, so he has plenty of time to bounce back, but it's becoming clear that Portis is in danger of losing his spot. He's currently averaging 19.4 minutes per game, the first time he has averaged fewer than 20 with the Milwaukee Bucks. Doc Rivers has opted to go with the quicker, more agile Kyle Kuzma, who has been thriving in his new role, to take more of the workload off the bench.
If this looming trend continues, conversations will be had once Bobby Portis becomes trade eligible.
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