Considering where their season has been as of late, the Milwaukee Bucks have a problem on their hands today. It's a good problem to have, but it’s still a problem that needs solving as soon as possible. And that problem is that Ryan Rollins is rolling once more. He's done it once, and he's clearly doing it again.
With Kevin Porter Jr. bypassing Rollins earlier on, it's clear Doc Rivers hasn’t settled on who to trust between Rollins and Porter. And while this might seem like a low-stakes question for such a top-heavy team, it’s exactly these rotation battles that determine who can swing a playoff series from the margins.
After the trade deadline, it looked like Porter had the job all but locked down. His ability to create off the dribble, operate in the pick-and-roll and be a microwave scorer filled a clear bench need.
But Rollins is surging now, and his fire is one that demands to be felt. He’s scored at least 20 points twice in his last five games, including a 23-point outburst against Phoenix where he shot 5-of-7 from deep. He's putting up 13.6 points, 3.4 rebounds and 3.4 assists per game in that span on a mind-boggling 72.2 percent shooting from behind the 3-point line.
For a Milwaukee Bucks team that just lost Damian Lillard, that’s not nothing.
The Milwaukee Bucks are still experimenting with the backcourt
Rollins brings an edge, especially defensively. No player has exemplified the push-and-pull of a long and gruelling NBA season quite like he has. Just this year alone, he fought to solidify a spot in the rotation, got injured, was immediately benched after it and then proved himself once more. Then, he was somewhat outstaged by backcourt newcomer Porter until he fought for his minutes once again.
There's no denying what Ryan Rollins brings to this team at this point. He pressures the ball, he doesn’t hesitate to shoot when open and he moves the rock well. There's an argument to be made that he's simply the more balanced player of the two and certainly the more suited to play off and around Giannis Antetokounmpo.
Porter, on the other hand, is more of a pure scorer, but he needs the ball to get going and tends to stagnate the offense when he’s not cooking.
None of this is to forget the performances that Porter gave us immediately after the trade deadline. When he’s locked in, he’s a dynamic scorer and a capable defender who can change the game in an instant. For a time, he had this writer believing he could be this team's third scoring option. He could still very well be the X-factor the Milwaukee Bucks need to make a deep playoff run.
But this Milwaukee Bucks team needs help in the backcourt, and Ryan Rollins is showing he can give that. Yet, in his past 10 games, he's played five minutes once, 15 minutes once and even 34 minutes at one point. This kind of inconsistency belies a coaching staff that still doesn't know what it wants out of its rotation.
Doc Rivers has many decisions he has to make with this Milwaukee Bucks team, but this might be one he can't afford to take his time with. This close to the playoffs, you just can't have that.
This decision might ultimately come down to matchups, but Rivers will need clarity before the playoffs arrive. Milwaukee can’t afford hesitation in the backcourt when the second unit checks in. This team is already thin, and clarity with your vision for the rotation can go a long way in making sure the team is rolling out its best when it counts.
If Rivers finds the right balance, the Milwaukee Bucks can get a real spark from this spot. But if he doesn’t, it’s one more area where opponents can steal minutes and momentum.
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