The Milwaukee Bucks are now 2-0 this preseason, following their 117-111 win over the Detroit Pistons. Doc Rivers dished minutes out to 19 players, but once again, Chris Livingston impressed with his physicality, which the Bucks desperately need.
Livingston had a solid performance in Monday's win over the Heat, and he backed it up once again. In 11 minutes, he scored nine points, all of which came from 10 attempts at the free throw line, but it was his tough defense that stood out for a team still searching for consistency at the wing positions.
Chris Livingston offers something the Bucks need
This summer has seen the Bucks roster change and move towards a younger, more athletic group of players. One thing they have struggled with in recent seasons has been dealing with teams when games get scrappy. The way the Bucks bowed out of the postseason showed they just got bullied by an Indiana Pacers team that was willing to fight and get dirty. Livingston offers that.
He may have only grabbed two rebounds, but it is the physicality and the use of his frame that allow Livingston to battle against bigger wings and come out with the ball. In his first preseason game, he shot 4-for-4 from the field, all within the paint area. His physicality against the Pistons forced defenders to foul him when attacking the basket.
Last season, the Bucks were not great in non-Giannis minutes, despite still having Damian Lillard to lead the offense. This coming season, those minutes without the Greek Freak will be huge for the players and Doc to get the lineups right. Livingston is not a direct replacement for Giannis, but he can drive and force teams into foul trouble, while showing the ability to be a consistent 3-point shooter, two huge skills this Milwaukee Bucks team identifies with.
Looking at the small forward position, the Bucks really are not settled. AJ Green has started both preseason games and has been electric, but come the regular season, things may need to be tweaked due to the lineup being short.
Kyle Kuzma did not play in Thursday night's game, but overall has been a really disappointing addition, and it looks like he will be out of the starting lineup, or potentially moved on. Taurean Prince has shown glimpses of that veteran who can shoot and play tough defense, yet again, he failed to step up when it mattered. This opens the door for someone like Livingston, whom the Bucks clearly still have faith in after offering him a guaranteed deal post-Summer League.
Is Livingston the Bucks' solution to their wing struggles? Possibly not. However, he is offering a physicality on both ends of the floor that the Bucks have lacked, outside of Giannis Antetokounmpo. He is still just 21 years old, so there is plenty of time to develop.
Preseason should always be taken with a pinch of salt, but there is an opportunity there for Chris Livingston to break into the rotation; he just needs to continue developing.