Across the Milwaukee Bucks' last three games, Myles Turner is averaging just 22.6 minutes per game, the sixth-most on the team. Plenty of fans speculated that Turner wasn't playing more due to a recent calf strain that caused him to miss time. That would have made sense, but Doc Rivers shot down the idea, telling reporters it isn't the case. There is no minute restriction.
This is simply how Rivers has liked utilizing his players, even if it means Turner is an afterthought in the nightly rotation.
Myles Turner isn't playing as big of a role for the Bucks lately
Over these last three games, Turner has found himself behind both Kyle Kuzma and Jericho Sims. While Kuzma makes some sense given Giannis Antetokounmpo's absence, Turner landing behind Sims is certainly eyebrow-raising. Yet, Rivers has seemingly fully embraced the athletic ability and rebounding chops that Sims has brought to the table.
It's hard to argue with the results statistically. Over their last 10 games, the Bucks have eight wins and just two losses. In that span, Sims is a +62, the highest mark on the entire team. In this same span, the other big man, Turner, has a rating of 0. The plus-minus stat is far from perfect, but it does highlight which lineups are good and which struggle, and there is a massive difference here.
Giannis Antetokounmpo being out has impacted Turner's play to some degree. Among Bucks duos to log at least 200 minutes this season, Antetokounmpo and Turner have the second-best plus-minus on the team at +120 (Antetokounmpo and AJ Green are first). The center thrived off Giannis' gravity, and he's failed to replicate that impact lately.
Turner is still getting his minutes, but not as many as the second-highest-paid player on the team should be getting. Remember, this is the player that the Milwaukee Bucks gleefully agreed to waive Damian Lillard for to acquire this summer. It's shocking, to say the least, that he's not even logging starter-level minutes for the Bucks.
It will be fascinating to see how Doc Rivers deploys his players down the stretch. Even when Giannis returns to the hardwood, there must be a role for Sims; he's proven to be too valuable. Will he earn more time than Turner and Portis, like he is now? That's the question, especially considering that they are better fits with Giannis than Sims.
Turner's role will be one of the Milwaukee Bucks' most fascinating storylines down the stretch.
Stay tuned for more Milwaukee Bucks analysis.