Following the NBA All-Star break, Doc Rivers has been experimenting with a new lineup combination that has given the Milwaukee Bucks some life.
The new concoction features Kyle Kuzma as the lone starter, pairing him with Jericho Sims, AJ Green, Kevin Porter Jr. and Gary Trent Jr. This group has logged 47 minutes since the group came back from the All-Star festivities, the second-most on the team behind the starters. One of the reasons this unit has given the Bucks a spark is the budding partnership between newcomers Porter and Sims.
Porter and Sims are forming a nice partnership off the Bucks' bench
Since coming over at the NBA Trade Deadline, Kevin Porter Jr. has served as Milwaukee's second unit floor general. One of his favorites targets as a facilitator has been Sims, the uber athletic big man who also came over in a deadline deal. One of the reasons is because Sims likes to lurk around the rim and has the athletic ability to catch lobs, while Porter has the chops to perfectly place them.
During their short time together, Porter has picked up eight assists thanks to makes by Jericho Sims, the most among all of his teammates. A prominent reason for that, again, is Sims' success around the hoop, as he's shot 8-of-9 (88.9 percent) off passes from Porter. The bond between guard and big man has been nearly perfect, and they're still in the early stages of their partnership.
These two will continue to be key pieces for the Milwaukee Bucks. Porter's ability to generate offense both as a facilitator and shot-creator has helped beef up the bench, while Sims' sheer athletic ability has given the team something they didn't have with Brook Lopez and Bobby Portis. They've been a breath of fresh air, and if they keep building this chemistry, things could only get better.
Doc Rivers should continue to use these two together. He's experimented playing them in lineups that do not feature one another, but it's clear that they play best when they are featured together. They're both hovering around 15 minutes per game right now, and it will be interesting to see if they stay there or if Doc Rivers opts to unleash this new duo a bit more nightly.
Given the success they've had, it might be worth it to let them off the leash a bit more, especially with Milwaukee's offense clearly needing a jolt. It's a simple formula, but the Porter-Sims duo is making the Milwaukee Bucks' bench a bit more interesting by offering something new offensively.
Stay tuned for more Milwaukee Bucks analysis.