It was just destiny that the Milwaukee Bucks and Indiana Pacers would face each other in the first round of the NBA playoffs this year, reigniting their rivalry from last season.
Milwaukee will be without Damian Lillard to start the series, but they have a couple of key players back in time for the postseason, which could be what propels them. Indiana has put together a 50-win season and will want payback for losing the regular season series 3-1.
The young, fast Pacers will be looking to use that to their advantage, similar to last year's playoffs, but there are definite adjustments the Milwaukee Bucks can make to cause an upset.
1. Start Ryan Rollins and have Kevin Porter Jr. come off the bench
Indiana thrives on a high-paced game, and that is something the Bucks have managed to handle against them this season. Lillard started all four of the matchups in the regular season, so going with Ryan Rollins as the starter gives the Bucks that familiar facilitator. What this can do is allow the Bucks to slow the game down early and not get into a running match with the Pacers, giving up points in transition.
Kevin Porter Jr. can bring that offensive punch off the bench and will likely play more minutes than Rollins, but it is about managing the game and eliminating turnovers. In the 2024 playoffs, Indiana killed Milwaukee in transition, and having Rollins and getting into pick-and-rolls early may just keep the home crowd quiet by taking the emotion and intensity out of the game.
2. Utilizing Portis and the athletic lineup to their advantage
Following on from the first strategy, the Pacers are too good a team to just try and keep the game slow, so the Milwaukee Bucks, at points, will need to match their energy.
The lineup of Porter, Gary Trent Jr., AJ Green, Giannis Antetokounmpo and Bobby Portis has allowed the Bucks to zone up defensively and be as athletic as possible. It was a great success during the eight-game win streak to finish the regular season and is the ideal lineup to match the Pacers with.
Giannis will attract all the attention on offense, with three good shooters on the perimeter and Portis able to help on the inside. Defensively, this gives them a much easier plan where they don't have to worry about Brook Lopez being brought up to the perimeter and being switched onto a guard. Portis has also given the Bucks help on the glass, grabbing 10 boards in two of his games and eight in the other game since his return.
When the series goes back to Milwaukee, feeding off the energy that Portis brings will be huge for the Milwaukee Bucks. We saw how the crowd reacted when he entered the game against the Minnesota Timberwolves following his 25-game suspension. That can be a key to winning those home games.
3. Jericho Sims guarding Myles Turner or Pascal Siakam
The Milwaukee Bucks lineup previously mentioned has been greatly successful. Now, Jericho Sims is back and gives Doc Rivers even more athleticism and versatility to use. Sims impressed during his 14 games before suffering a thumb injury, averaging 4.9 boards per game and being a threat in the paint.
Teams have always found ways to drag Lopez up to the perimeter and switch him onto guards. With Sims, that doesn't happen as often. Having that ability to switch will be key in this series, and Sims allows Rivers to use different combinations and make it tough for Myles Turner and Pascal Siakam with players that can match them physically.
Extra - Andre Jackson Jr. used sporadically to slow down Haliburton
Andre Jackson Jr. has really fallen out of the rotation, and this isn't a point of getting him back in, but there is still value in his skill set for this series. Tyrese Haliburton has had a strong second half of the season, and the Milwaukee Bucks will need someone to slow him down.
If Rollins continues to start, it will change the matchups slightly due to Haliburton's size and that is where Jackson can still help. In the first two times the teams faced in the regular season, Jackson held Haliburton to just two points in eight minutes of defending him, both of which came from the free throw line. If the Milwaukee Bucks need to slow the guard down, Jackson can be used sporadically to make it uncomfortable.
These are just a few adjustments the Bucks can make to win this series. They are full of confidence, and with Sims' return and the positivity surrounding Lillard, Milwaukee is in a good place and will really fancy their chances of beating the Pacers.
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