After the initial feel-it-out period, Kevin Porter Jr. became a midseason shot in the arm that the Milwaukee Bucks desperately needed after coming over via trade.
Playing impressive basketball during Milwaukee's eight-game winning streak to close out the regular season, it felt inevitable that Porter would play a key role in the postseason. In fact, there were plenty of people who said the youngster would be Milwaukee's greatest X-factor due to his ability to turn the tide at any moment with his shot-making and pesky defense.
Two games in, Porter has been a disappointment. In 22.2 minutes per game, Porter is now averaging just 10.5 points, four assists and three rebounds while shooting a measly 37.5 percent from the floor and 25 percent from downtown. To make matters worse, he's averaging two fouls and 1.5 turnovers per game. His struggles have undoubtedly been a factor in Milwaukee's 0-2 start.
Bucks guard looks like former trade deadline acquisition
During the 2018-19 NBA season, when the Milwaukee Bucks were in a much different position than they are in now, they made a nice swing at the trade deadline. They acquired Nikola Mirotic to beef up their rotation. While the forward wasn't a game-changer in the regular season, averaging 11.6 points while shooting 41.5 percent from the floor and 35.6 percent from deep, he showed he had what it took to make an impact in the playoffs. It felt like he could be a huge piece on the big stage.
Yet, Mirotic's production dipped mightily. In 14 playoff games, he averaged 9.8 points while hitting a mere 37.6 percent of his shots, including 28.9 percent from deep. It got so bad that he found himself out of the rotation as time went on. Obviously, the sample size with Mirotic was much greater than the two games Porter has played in, but he's certainly giving the same feeling right now in terms of a promising trade deadline acquisition faltering in the postseason. That needs to change soon.
Porter has time to change the narrative. Although the Bucks find themselves down 0-2 in this series, Indiana still has to win two more games to advance. If Porter can break out of these struggles and be the player who was so good to close the regular season, it would certainly give the Milwaukee Bucks a needed boost. The first two games feel like Porter being a bit rattled by this being his playoff debut, but the team needs him to shake those nerves.
If he doesn't, he may go down in Milwaukee Bucks history just like Nikola Mirotic has: a promising trade deadline acquisition who ultimately couldn't help get it done in the postseason.
Stay tuned for more Milwaukee Bucks analysis.