Rotation switches continue in Bucks' win over Rockets with 2 major changes

Coming off a gut-wrenching loss to the Charlotte Hornets in their last meeting, the Milwaukee Bucks returned home to take on the Houston Rockets, one of the best teams in the West.

It was an action-packed game from start to finish, with each side both possessing and fumbling a double-digit lead at some point in the contest. In the end, the Bucks got just enough to secure the win on their home floor, with star point guard Damian Lillard giving the team a 101-100 edge late.

One of the prominent storylines from this game was some interesting rotation decisions from coach Doc Rivers, something that has been a staple game-by-game this season.

Andre Jackson Jr. is still seeking consistency in the rotation

In a move that simply makes too much sense, Andre Jackson Jr. has earned the role of Milwaukee's starting shooting guard. However, just because he starts does not mean his minutes have been the same each game. For instance, after playing 31 and 33 minutes in the previous two games, Jackson notched just five minutes against the Houston Rockets.

After tallying nearly five minutes in the first quarter, Jackson did not return to the game until the final possession, where he logged another four seconds of action. The wing likely saw his time somewhat cut due to strong nights from Gary Trent Jr. and AJ Green, but for him to earn just five minutes after how much he played in the previous two games was still odd.

It may be tough for such a young player to get into a rhythm when their role is constantly changing like it has been for Andre Jackson Jr. Ultimately, the Bucks got the win against the Rockets rolling with the lineups they did, but as the NBA season progresses, there must be consistent minutes in the rotation for one of the best defenders on this Milwaukee Bucks roster.

Pat Connaughton earns a DNP

Plenty of Milwaukee Bucks fans have questioned Doc Rivers for giving Pat Connaughton extended time despite his regression this season. Unless an undocumented injury kept him sidelined for this matchup against Houston, Connaughton simply did not get off the bench due to Rivers keeping him there from start to finish.

With Andre Jackson Jr. becoming a starter, AJ Green taking significant strides on both sides of the basketball court and Gary Trent Jr. finally seeing his shots go through the net, these three earning time over Connaughton is the correct decision. They simply offer more upside than Connaughton does at this point, especially on the defensive side of the ball.

With how frequently Doc Rivers continues changing up his rotations with each passing game, these changes are far from set in stone. The team has now won three of their last four games - with the one loss coming after a horrendous late-game foul call - so there is some momentum building, and Rivers is clearly still experimenting with his lineups. It'll be interesting to see what he does next game.

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