When Giannis Antetokounmpo went down with his latest calf injury, everyone was ready to stick a fork in the Milwaukee Bucks. They were 15-15 with him, and a lot worse without him. There was no chance this team could stay afloat without him for over a month... right? Wrong. This team has reeled off eight wins over its last 10 games and is suddenly very much in the Play-In hunt.
The driving force has undoubtedly been the dynamic guard duo of Kevin Porter Jr. and Ryan Rollins, who have been playing elite basketball over the past month.
Porter, Rollins have been in elite company this month
In February, there are only eight players averaging at least 21 points, five rebounds, and five assists. They include Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Nikola Jokic, Cade Cunningham, Luka Doncic, Jalen Johnson, Paolo Banchero, Ryan Rollins, and Kevin Porter Jr. Four of those players are in the MVP race this year, while the other two have All-Star selections under their belts. That's some good company.
Porter and Rollins may not have the MVPs or All-Star nods that these players do, but watching them, it wouldn't be surprising if they did. They've played incredible basketball lately, helping pull the Bucks out from the darkest depths of the Eastern Conference to offer a glimmer of playoff hope. They have no reason to slow down, either.
Porter has stepped up as Milwaukee's go-to option this month, averaging 21.9 points, 7.9 assists, 5.4 rebounds, and an eye-catching 2.7 steals per game. Despite shooting 19.2 percent on his triple tries, Porter's scoring has been dynamic, as defenses have had no answer to his constant drives. He's also thrived with more responsibility as a ball-handler and facilitator.
Rollins is directly behind Porter in the scoring order at 21.8 points per game, upping his production mightily and bolstering his Most Improved Player case in the process. In addition to putting points on the board more frequently, he's averaging 5.4 assists, five rebounds, and 1.1 steals while shooting a blistering 50.8 percent from deep, continuing his rise to two-way stardom.
Those numbers are elite. There is no way around it. The Milwaukee Bucks didn't make any trades for big-name players this year, but they very much have a Big 3 here.
When Giannis gets the all-clear from his calf injury, the red-hot Milwaukee Bucks will only get all the more dangerous. Doc Rivers recently told reporters that the Greek Freak, who has been out of the lineup since January 23, is "close" to returning. This isn't a role player they are dropping in. It's one of the best players in the entire world rejoining a team that is 8-2 over its last 10 games.
Suddenly, the Milwaukee Bucks have new life, and these two combo guards have led the charge. Now, the Greek Freak could be the final piece of the puzzle to ignite Milwaukee's late-season playoff push.
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