When the Milwaukee Bucks traded for Jericho Sims last month, it was one of those moves where it was obvious from the jump why they did it.
Milwaukee's center position had been occupied by Brook Lopez and Bobby Portis, two solid players. However, this season more than ever, it was clear that the lack of athleticism and mobility these two possess was clearly hurting the team. The younger, more athletic Sims offered the Milwaukee Bucks something different, and his contract was incredibly small. It felt like a slam-dunk move.
It became more obvious why they traded for him when it was announced soon after that backup big man Bobby Portis would be suspended for 25 games for violating the NBA's Anti-Drug Policy back in November. The Milwaukee Bucks were clearly aware that a suspension could be coming, so they went out and got a low-cost big man who could help.
Sims and Portis are very different players, but with the latter suspended, Sims has done a great job of filling in as Milwaukee's backup center.
Jericho Sims continues to impress with the Milwaukee Bucks
Sims might not stuff the stat sheet every night - averaging 2.7 points and 4.7 rebounds per game with the Milwaukee Bucks - but he constantly makes his presence felt. He's doing so by simply providing a different look at the center spot for the Milwaukee Bucks, whether it be by sticking with his matchup out on the perimeter, catching an alley-oop for a throwdown or flying high for a rebound.
Perhaps the best example of what Sims can do for this team came in Milwaukee's most recent victory over the Los Angeles Lakers.
In nearly 18 minutes, Sims gave the Milwaukee Bucks a boost with four points and 11 rebounds off of the bench. The four points came from a pair of alley-oops that were perfectly placed by Milwaukee's lead guards, Damian Lillard and Kevin Porter Jr., as Sims nearly leapt out of the gym before throwing down two thunderous dunks.
He used that leaping ability to be a force on the glass as well, creating even more opportunities on the offensive end. Securing rebounds has been an issue for the Milwaukee Bucks at times this year, but Sims has seemingly made it his mission to lessen that worry. He attacks the glass with a purpose each possession, and that effort doesn't go unnoticed.
Sims also flexed his defensive capabilities against the Lakers. It's a small sample size, but players on the Lakers side shot just 3-of-8 (37.5 percent) with Sims as the primary defender. His ability to switch and cycle through different matchups has been incredibly beneficial to the Bucks, and games like this showcase how the stats back that up.
It's tough to think about where the Milwaukee Bucks would be right now had they not traded for Sims, given how thin they were at center even before Portis' suspension.
Sure, he hasn't been a needle-mover, but with one of the most productive sixth men in the league out, there's no denying that Sims has stepped in and filled his own role greatly. In fact, it's becoming clear that Sims should remain a part of the rotation even when Portis returns.
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