The Bucks’ biggest disadvantage this season has been rebounding, and backup big man Jericho Sims is just waiting on the bench, ready to solve the issue.
It’s no secret that the Bucks are small on the perimeter, but their rebounding concerns have also extended to their bigs besides Giannis Antetokounmpo. At an athletic 6-foot-10 and 250lbs, Sims can greatly help the rebounding effort, but hasn’t received consistent minutes this season.
The Bucks are getting killed on the boards
The Bucks are getting great contributions from their guard rotation, but they’re unable to help out much on the boards. Even the most physical guards on the Bucks roster, Ryan Rollins and Cole Anthony, are only able to contribute 3.5 rebounds per game. They’re respectable numbers for point guards but not enough to change the Milwaukee Bucks’ rebounding status as a team.
On the season, Milwaukee ranks 25th in total rebounds per game and, arguably more importantly, 24th in allowing offensive rebounds. This weakness has cost them dearly in the last two games, when they gave up 20 offensive rebounds to the Rockets and 16 to the Mavericks. It resulted in a loss against Houston and almost a loss to the flailing Mavericks as well.
Starting center Myles Turner has not lived up to expectations so far, and part of that includes his rebounding. Turner has never been a strong rebounder for his size, but his 6.6 rebounds per game are hitting the Bucks especially hard. Giannis has done all he can on the boards at 12 per game, but it’s becoming hard to survive without more support from his center.
Bobby Portis has also historically been a strong rebounder for the Bucks, but he’s only averaging 5.4 per game this season. It’s his lowest average since arriving in Milwaukee six seasons ago. Unfortunately, the deterioration of this coveted skill is coming at the worst possible time for the Bucks.
Jericho Sims, on the other hand, was a very strong rebounder when he played more regularly for the Bucks last season. In just 15 minutes per game, he averaged five rebounds per game. Compare this to Turner and Portis averaging 30 and 20 minutes per game, respectively, and it’s clear that Sims would be a better option for plugging this weakness.
That’s not to say that Sims is always the perfect choice at center. But he can be a useful contributor in certain matchups, especially against teams that are known for big frontlines and strong offensive rebounding. The last two games would have been the perfect time to give him big minutes for the first time this season.