The return of Bobby Portis, who was out of the lineup for 25 games due to a suspension, may have helped the Milwaukee Bucks unlock something special.
In three games for a total of 45 minutes, Doc Rivers has deployed a lineup of Giannis Antetokounmpo, Bobby Portis, Gary Trent Jr., Kevin Porter Jr. and AJ Green. Among Milwaukee's five-man units to tally at least 25 minutes following the NBA All-Star break, this unit ranks first in offensive rating, defensive rating and net rating. Following that same criteria, they rank fourth in offensive rating and fifth in net rating among all NBA teams.
This group, which could very well be their current "Death Lineup" as they hope to get good news on Damian Lillard's possible return sometime soon, gets things done.
Everything works so well among these five because of the blend of scoring, energy and shooting that every player brings to the table. With the Indiana Pacers on the schedule for the opening round of the NBA Playoffs, this lineup should undoubtedly see plenty of action, but there is one question that may make or break the Bucks in this series, and it involves the newly reinstated Bobby Portis.
Can Bucks' Bobby Portis hang with the uber athletic Pacers?
While he does plenty of things well, Bobby Portis has never been known for his athleticism, especially on the defensive side of the ball. Against the Pacers, one of the fastest teams in the league, they may look to exploit him in this lineup by forcing switches and drawing him out to the perimeter. Having the other athletes in the lineup could help cover this, but Indy may still go after Portis relentlessly.
Thus far, Portis' defense hasn't been a major issue in these lineups. He's been active since his return, clearly motivated by his suspension and wanting to make a difference. If he can hold his own when it is time to deploy this group moving forward, it could very well be the best five-man group Milwaukee has as long as Damian Lillard sits out.
Some may argue that inserting Jericho Sims over Bobby Portis may help, as the former is certainly the better athlete among the two. Lineups with Sims and Antetokounmpo were also quite impactful before the young big man underwent surgery. Inserting Sims over Portis takes away some 3-point shooting, which is something that makes this lineup click in the first place, though.
For now, the stats don't lie. This lineup has done incredibly good things, and the Milwaukee Bucks will certainly look to continue that trend. The NBA Playoffs are a different animal than the regular season, so it will be interesting to see how this lineup holds up. While everyone has to do their part, it will be particularly interesting to see how Portis holds up against this fast and athletic Pacers team.
Stay tuned for more Milwaukee Bucks analysis.