Whether it be due to injury, personnel issues, or whatever else, the Milwaukee Bucks simply can't find a steady starting unit this season. Doc Rivers has been throwing whatever he can at the wall, hoping it will stick, and he actually may have stumbled onto something in Milwaukee's latest game. The first five he put on the floor against the visiting Boston Celtics showed legitimate promise.
New Bucks starting five will have to hold things down
With Giannis Antetokounmpo sidelined due to a calf strain and AJ Green nursing a nagging shoulder issue, Rivers has scrambled to find suitable replacements. It hasn't gone well lately. Against Boston, Rivers started Kevin Porter Jr., Ryan Rollins, Gary Trent Jr., Kyle Kuzma, and Myles Turner. They got off to a slow start, but they battled back and eventually won the game.
Kyle Kuzma was the leading factor. Given the green light to do more with Giannis out, the forward had a night to remember, pouring in 31 points, six rebounds, and a block. He shot the ball 17 times, hitting 13 of them. Attempting just two 3-pointers, Kuzma had more leeway to attack inside rather than be a floor spacer, and he took full advantage.
Kevin Porter Jr. followed with an electric triple-double, posting 18 points, 13 assists, and 10 boards. Whether he was knocking down tough shot after tough shot or finding his teammates for good looks, Porter looked calm and collected throughout. At this point, there's no way around it: since he's come back from injury, Porter has looked like an All-Star.
He didn't light it up quite like either of those two, but Gary Trent Jr. also had himself a solid night with 13 points on 5-of-9 shooting. For most of the season, the wing has failed to make much of an impact, struggling to put up points or play stout defense. However, it was good to see that he can still put a few shots through the net and give this team a shot in the arm.
Ryan Rollins and Myles Turner were mostly in the backseat for this one, but they still did their part to contribute. Rollins poured in 10 points and seven assists, largely focusing on the defensive side of things as others had the hot hand. Turner had a rough shooting night, going 1-of-6, but he still made his presence felt with two blocks.
As long as Antetokounmpo and Green are out, this is the lineup the Milwaukee Bucks should roll with. They have the shot-making, facilitating, and defensive acumen to give teams problems. After all, they just beat the third-ranked team in the conference. After countless tries, Rivers may have found a new lineup worth utilizing consistently.
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