The Milwaukee Bucks, despite boasting a star-studded roster with second-unit veterans who were heralded as the missing pieces when they were first signed, have all of a sudden stumbled out of the gate this season with a record of 1-6 in early November.
While there is certainly a litany of issues to blame for their largely underwhelming performances — from Doc Rivers' rotations to the absence of smooth shooting swingman Khris Middleton — one player's consistently inconsistent play has been particularly glaring: Bobby Portis.
Portis, once a reliable role player, has been a mixed bag this season, to say the least. Much has been said about how questionable his defensive positioning and rotations have been to start the season. This has led to breakdowns in the Bucks' defensive schemes and allowed opponents to score easy points, which has been a huge part of their 22nd-ranked defensive rating of 116.5.
While his energy and rebounding remain his calling card for the team — he was a perennial Sixth Man of the Year candidate for a reason, after all — it's his less-than-ideal offensive contributions that have stood out from the rest of his game.
Compared to his past few seasons, his shot selection has been questionable, with the big man often opting for low-percentage, contested shots out of post-up plays that disrupt the team's offensive rhythm.
Bobby Portis has been a net negative to Milwaukee's offense thus far
One of the most concerning aspects of Portis' play is his tendency to slow down the pace of the game. These days, once the ball touches his hands, it's a safe bet that he's putting up a tough shot. His post-ups and isolations can disrupt the Milwaukee Bucks' fluid offensive sets, which rely heavily on ball movement and off-ball screening actions at their best.
The numbers tell a depressing story about Bobby Portis's impact on the team.
According to NBA.com/stats, Portis is posting up for almost a third of his entire offensive diet - he's good for at least four post-ups a night - yet only scoring less than a point per possession, which is good for the 21st percentile in his position for that play type. To put that number into perspective, Bobby, a 6-foot-10 big man, did not meet the minimum of 10 possessions per play type to qualify for stat tracking as a roll man in the pick-and-roll.
According to PBP Stats, the team's offensive rating shrinks (-15.54 fewer points scored per 100) in the minutes that Portis is on the floor. Offensive possessions take longer (15.1 seconds vs. 13.9), the Bucks take fewer shots at the rim (0.265 frequency vs. 0.293), shot quality gets worse (0.54 vs. 0.56) and overall pace slows down (98.8 vs 101.8). The offense is just worse when Bobby plays, even in games where he gets his numbers.
There's a reason the offense has zipped along well whenever Portis is off the court. Portis' shot selection doesn't just kill ball movement — it kills player movement. With the big man glued to the post and consistently asking for entry passes there, the entire system falls apart, with none of the other four players on the court able to get to their next spots to keep the offense going.
It might be time to move on from Milwaukee's underdog
Thus far, Portis has logged the worst net rating on Milwaukee's roster, along with the third-worst defensive rating and fourth-worst offensive rating. Among 138 forwards coming off the bench in the NBA, Portis' net rating finished 120th. And these inconsistencies highlight a potential risk in offering Portis a lucrative extension.
To be candid about it, the Bucks need a more dynamic and efficient player in that role next to Damian Lillard and Giannis Antetokounmpo, someone who complements their offensive flow and defensive scheme seamlessly instead of taking all the shots. The reality is that the Bucks need a more dynamic and efficient offensive player in his role, someone who can make quick decisions and create scoring opportunities for himself and his teammates.
The Bucks' offensive struggles can be attributed to several factors, including injuries, inconsistent shooting — and yes, a lack of offensive creativity on the part of the coaching staff. However, Portis' borderline selfish play has exacerbated these issues, and the team, at this point, needs to be more intentional about finding ways to maximize his strengths while minimizing his weaknesses. This could involve limiting his touches, encouraging him to make quicker decisions, and emphasizing his role as a rebounder and defender.
The Milwaukee Bucks have a talented roster, but they need all their players to contribute at a high level to achieve their championship aspirations. If Portis continues to struggle, the Bucks may need to consider making adjustments to their rotation or explore potential trade options.
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