The Milwaukee Bucks are at the point now where they need to reinsert Ryan Rollins and/or Andre Jackson Jr. in the rotation again.
The Bucks continue to have problems guarding elite guards, such as Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, in Sunday night's 121-105 loss to the Oklahoma City Thunder. Kyle Kuzma held his own in the first half with the assignment of guarding Gilgeous-Alexander. The second half was a different story, though, as none of the Bucks guards were able to stop him.
That all changed in the last five minutes of the game when both guards, Ryan Rollins and Andre Jackson Jr., were finally given some run by Doc Rivers.
Both Jackson Jr. and Rollins bring defensive energy and versatility
It's no secret as of late that the Milwaukee Bucks' defense continues to be both inconsistent and suspect at best. Guard AJ Green has been struggling mightily on both ends of the floor and is pretty much a walking foul. Not only has he lost his shot and his confidence, but his defense has also fallen off big time. Green's play lately should be enough to remove him from the rotation, as he has become the weak link and is continuously being attacked by opposing offenses.
Inexplicably, Green continues to get a lot of playing time, while Rollins and Jackson have been relegated to the bench. Doc Rivers continues to say that the Milwaukee Bucks' defense is good enough to hold their opponents below their usual scoring number when, in reality, the Bucks' POA defense and perimeter defense have both been suspect at best.
Enter Jackson, with his high motor, defensive intensity and playmaking ability. For the most part, as soon as he enters off the bench, he instantly changes the dynamic of the game, whether it be meaningful minutes or garbage time.
He has the ability to guard multiple positions, disrupt passing lanes and push the tempo in transition. His instant energy off the bench on both ends of the floor is also unprecedented and quite palpable. There is no doubt that his athleticism and energy particularly help in matchups against younger, faster teams that have exploited the Milwaukee Bucks' aging core.
He has proven and shown flashes of being a defensive game-changer. This is evidenced by how much harder Gilgeous-Alexander was forced to work against him in the last few minutes of the game. Not only that, but Jackson Jr. held him to 21 points in the NBA Cup final game victory.
Combo guard Ryan Rollins was an instant game-changer as well when he was inserted into the game against the Thunder in the last four minutes. Rollins scored six points and had two blocks in limited minutes. While the game was out of hand for the most part, it was evident that he had an immediate impact, which was very much felt.
He has shown flashes of offensive potential this season, he can create his own shot and can penetrate the defense. He has also become somewhat of a facilitator for his teammates such as Giannis Antetokounmpo, and has shown to provide relief when the offense stalls and becomes stagnant.
Statistical cases for both Jackson Jr and Rollins' return to the rotation
When Jackson Jr. is in the game, he tends to post one of the better defensive ratings among the Bucks' players on the floor. He has the ability to create turnovers and push the break in transition, which adds an element to the Bucks' offense that they tend to often lack. In small-ball lineups, he also can crash the glass effectively, which is an area where the Bucks have struggled in small-ball lineups.
With the struggles of AJ Green and the absence of Bobby Portis Jr., the Bucks' bench has lacked consistent scoring as of late, outside of Kevin Porter Jr, and occasionally Gary Trent Jr. Porter Jr. and Trent Jr. have helped to improve a guard rotation that has been in flux, due to inconsistent performances. Rollins can definitely help stabilize the second unit again with both his scoring and playmaking ability.
Rollins has proven to have a smooth mid-range game and is a capable three-level scorer, when given the opportunity. He also possesses the ability to run the offense in spurts, while at the same time taking pressure off of both Giannis Antetokounmpo and Damian Lillard when they are both on the bench. There is no doubt that Rollins can provide a spark as a secondary creator, when Lillard rests on the bench and the offense becomes stagnant, which happens far too often this season.
Doc Rivers should award both players with more minutes in the rotation
Milwaukee Bucks head coach Doc Rivers continues to frustrate Bucks fans and remains steadfast and unwavering in his very questionable rotations and loyalty to playing veterans.
He continues to not give Kevin Porter Jr enough minutes on the floor while giving AJ Green too many. Both Rollins and Jackson Jr. inject an infusion of youth, energy and defensive intensity, which the Bucks are lacking far too often on both sides of the floor. Both Rollins and Jackson specifically fit this mold and bring skills that are currently lacking in the rotation. With the bench production being as inconsistent as it has been all season, Rollins and Jackson Jr. can definitely help to stabilize the rotation and provide a much-needed spark that this team so desperately needs.