This time of year, every single team in the NBA is battling some sort of adversity.
The Boston Celtics are dealing with injuries to Jrue Holiday and Jaylen Brown. The New York Knicks are trying to stay afloat with Jalen Brunson sidelined. The Los Angeles Lakers just got LeBron James back after he missed a handful of games. The Milwaukee Bucks, meanwhile, are dealing with a handful of individual issues themselves.
Between the mid-season roster shakeup at the NBA Trade Deadline, injuries and a suspension given to Bobby Portis, the Milwaukee Bucks haven't had much continuity lately. With the regular season on its last leg, time is running out for the Bucks to build chemistry and establish things before the lights get bright in the NBA Playoffs. That could be incredibly problematic.
Doc Rivers spoke to reporters after Milwaukee's win over the Kings and offered his optimistic view of the challenges he and the Bucks are facing with the roster currently.
Despite the lack of continuity, Bucks' Doc Rivers isn't too worried
Currently, the Milwaukee Bucks are dealing with injuries to Damian Lillard and Jericho Sims, while big man Bobby Portis remains suspended. This has forced him to shuffle rotations and lineups around on a daily basis. Rivers understands that this situation is not ideal, but he certainly doesn't think it will be the final nail in the coffin for the Milwaukee Bucks.
"It'd be nice to get whole. No Dame right now. No Bobby. No Jericho. We literally are stuck with one five on the floor in Brook [Lopez]. When we take Brook out, we don't have a five. We don't have a five on our roster. We are not going to be able to have that March melding because some of these guys are not going to be able to play. But I think we know our identity anyway. I think we know who we are. Rotation-wise, I think we know how we want to play, and I think we'll be fine."
Milwaukee's issues at center are indeed a real predicament. Jericho Sims was masterfully fillin in for Portis before suffering a thumb injury. After going under the knife, the hope is that Sims will be back in time for the playoffs, which is right around when Portis will be back as well. Those two will have little time to familiarize themselves with their teammates at game speed before the bright lights kick on.
For the time being, they've stayed afloat by relying more on Brook Lopez and Giannis Antetokounmpo at the five. The Milwaukee Bucks certainly don't want to wear these two down, but with Lopez being the only available true center on the roster, they don't have much of a choice until one or both of the other big men return. That time cannot come soon enough.
As for Lillard, his calf soreness appears to be a day-to-day thing. After missing the last two matchups, it wouldn't be surprising if he made his return rather soon. In the meantime, the Milwaukee Bucks have gotten significant contributions from electric guards Gary Trent Jr. and Kevin Porter Jr.
No one is going to feel sorry for the Milwaukee Bucks, and everyone knows that. Doc Rivers is playing the hand he was dealt, and he's making the most of it. He's optimistic about Milwaukee's chances, and let's hope that translates into results in the playoffs. For the time being, he will have to continue making things work with who and what he has available at his disposal.
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