It is now three straight defeats for the Bucks after they fell to a late surge from the Minnesota Timberwolves. There have been some positive signs to start the season, but the same frailties continue to haunt the team as they stay competitive before letting the game get away from them. Center Jericho Sims hasn't featured too much this season, but his energy on Monday was something the team really needed to give them a spark.
Sims can still play a role on the Bucks
It is strange to talk so glowingly about a player who played almost 15 minutes, grabbed just two rebounds and an assist, and didn't shoot a field goal. However, Sims was one of three Bucks players who finished the game with a positive plus-minus. When the Bucks pulled him out in the fourth, the Timberwolves went on a 12-2 run to pull away and put the game out of reach.
Kel'el Ware has started the season well, but a quiet night for him and a little bit of foul trouble in some games show he isn't quite the finished article just yet. Myles Turner had a better game following his slow start to the season, and yet Sims has totaled just 23 minutes so far this season.
Sims won't light up the box score like the other bigs can, but his energy and defensive versatility can still bring something positive to the Bucks roster. The data is limited due to his playing time, but Sims has the second-best defensive field goal percentage on the team, as he holds opponents to just 33.3 percent shooting so far in the three games he has featured in.
There is no doubt that he could be moved like the other veterans on this roster; for now, he provides energy when the team needs it.
Taylor Jenkins has shown a willingness to make big changes
Perhaps the biggest talking point from the game was Taylor Jenkins benching Ryan Rollins and opting for rookie Brayden Burries from the start. Coming into the season, it felt like the point guard spot belonged to Rollins, but a slow start to the season has seen Jenkins willing to make a big decision.
The new head coach has been leaning on the veterans at the start of the season, yet this decision shows that they should be aware that Jenkins is willing to give the younger guys a shot. Burries has been brilliant to start, as has Ware, raising the question of whether Turner may find his way starting on the bench for the younger five-man.
This doesn't mean we should be expecting Sims to be starting soon, as Jenkins is clearly still trying to find his spot in the rotation. His energy in Minnesota showed he can still bring something to the team and that may earn him a bigger role within the rotation soon.
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