A Milwaukee Bucks team devoid of life lately might be getting their starting point guard back sooner than some expected. Following Milwaukee's loss to the New York Knicks, Kyle Kuzma told reporters, "We get Scoot back tomorrow, hopefully." Scoot, aka Kevin Porter Jr., would be ahead of schedule by a few days if he makes his return against the Brooklyn Nets on the second night of a back-to-back.
Porter should give the Bucks a shot in the arm
Porter underwent meniscus surgery on November 3 and was expected to be out for a month. It's only a few days, but the guard could be back in the lineup early if Kuzma's comments prove true. It cannot be overstated how much Porter's return will help this team, especially with how poorly they have been lately amid a seven-game losing streak.
With or without Giannis Antetokounmpo in the lineup, the Milwaukee Bucks have lacked shot creation. They need someone other than Ryan Rollins who can take control of the offense and score or find the open man. Porter, who was initially slated to be Milwaukee's starting floor general over Rollins, should absolutely help on that side of things immediately.
Integrating Porter into the lineup will be almost like adding a new player entirely. He's only played nine minutes this season due to ankle and meniscus injuries. There may be a ramp-up period, but once he finds his footing, his importance will be clear. It was on display in those nine minutes, where he tallied 10 points, two assists, and a steal in the season opener before exiting.
As he works his way back into form, Porter will likely come off the bench. Implementing him back into the starting five right off the bat would be bold, especially with how well Rollins has been playing. The Milwaukee Bucks cannot risk overworking him and disrupting Rollins' breakout. Once he finds himself, it will be interesting to see how Doc Rivers plans to utilize him.
For now, likely orchestrating Milwaukee's second unit will be a good gig. Porter will eat minutes from Cole Anthony, who has been stuck in the mud lately. That alone could be helpful, given Anthony's poor shot selection and decision-making, which have bogged down Milwaukee's bench.
Porter's return isn't fixing everything for the 8-12 Bucks, but he can certainly help. This team needs a boost wherever they can get it from at this point.
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