Last season, the Milwaukee Bucks primarily used Gary Trent Jr. and AJ Green as reserves. This year, both should be starters due to how well they complement Giannis Antetokounmpo and the vision of this new-look roster. Even if one of the two would be playing out of position, the potential is there for these two to help this team come out of the gates firing every single night.
Trent, Green, and Antetokounmpo could wreak some havoc
For years, shooters have thrived alongside Giannis Antetokounmpo, capitalizing on the number of wide-open looks they earn due to the attention given to the Greek Freak. The same was true for the two marksmen this past season, as they both thrived when paired with Antetokounmpo. As two of the best shooters on the team, it would only make sense to start them both next season.
During the regular season, Trent shot 43-of-89 (48.3 percent) on his triples off passes from Giannis. Green wasn't quite as good, going 31-of-83 (37.3 percent), but the success was still apparent. In the NBA Playoffs, though with a much smaller sample size, those numbers went up. Trent shot 9-of-15 (60 percent) on triples off Giannis Antetokounmpo passes, while Green was at 5-of-9 (55.6 percent).
All of that production came while the two shooters were primarily coming off the bench. If they were to start, their number could shoot up significantly. With Giannis likely set to take on more control of the offense than he has in recent years, putting two elite shooters around him could see his assist numbers skyrocket to career-best numbers and keep this offense flowing smoothly.
The key question, if Doc Rivers were to pursue this, would be how the two would fare against bigger forwards. Trent is 6-foot-5, while Green is 6-foot-4, so neither player has the height to match up directly, but they do have the strength and intensity to make their presence felt. Both are underrated on the defensive end and would welcome the opportunity to guard a bigger player for the team's benefit if asked.
The game plan for the Milwaukee Bucks next season should be simple. Give Giannis the keys to the entire offense, surround him with elite perimeter shooters, and make sure there is plenty of youth, athleticism, and defense on the floor at all times. Gary Trent Jr. and AJ Green both fit the mold of what the team needs in those regards, and embracing that could take them to new heights.
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