Pairing AJ Green and Gary Trent Jr. in the starting lineup has its benefits. It maximizes the amount of shooting around Giannis Antetokounmpo and gives the offense a boost. Defensively, however, their small stature is proving to be a problem. It reared its head once again in Tuesday's ugly loss to the Raptors and their collection of supersized wings.
Green/Trent combo is getting exposed on defense
Against teams like Toronto, the Bucks can't hide the 6-foot-4 Green or 6-foot-5 Trent on smaller opposing players. Matched up with the likes of RJ Barrett, Green could hardly help but foul. He picked up four personals overall and three shooting fouls versus Barrett, who got to the line 12 times on the night. It was Green's fifth game this season with four or more fouls and his seventh with at least three.
With Barrett having his way, Doc Rivers had little choice but to turn to Taurean Prince and Kyle Kuzma in Green's place. The Bucks' starting two-guard saw 17 minutes all game. Part of that had to do with the game becoming a blowout, but still, Green was easily the least-played starter. He also had the worst plus-minus in the starting five at -17. Both Prince and Kuzma received more playing time off the bench.
For his part, Trent was only whistled twice but was no match for Brandon Ingram, who is 6-foot-8. Asking Trent to guard someone with Ingram's size and length sounds ludicrous because it is, but as Ingram's counterpart at the three-spot, he was Rivers' best option in the starting five. Obviously, that's a problem.
The size issues with starting Green and Trent together have characterized both matchups against Toronto this season, although the Bucks escaped with a win the first time. While the Raptors are an extreme case, any standard-sized small forward can give the Bucks problems. That much has been apparent in the early going. Either Green or Trent is equipped to defend typical twos, but that leaves Milwaukee with a mismatch at the three.
On top of that, Green already struggles with foul trouble at times. Trent is better in that area but still gets pushed around. In Milwaukee's last game against the Raptors, he nearly fouled out. The same thing happened two days later in Cleveland.
Often, it hasn't been pretty for either of them, although it isn't all their fault. Assigning them to opponents like Barrett and Ingram is simply asking too much.
Fans wanted to see both in the starting lineup, and much to their delight, Doc Rivers obliged. It seemed like the obvious choice. If this defensive trend continues, though, everyone who celebrated the move may have to take the L. Depending on the matchup, Kuzma may be the option most fans didn't want to see back in the starting lineup.
Appealing or not, it's something the Bucks might have to consider. While Trent is struggling on both ends, Kuzma has played well in his role. That's not the outcome anyone wanted or anticipated, but size concerns may force Rivers' hand.