Time running out for Doc Rivers to make pivotal call regarding Milwaukee Bucks' bench

The development of a professional athlete from a benchwarmer to a serviceable rotation piece is a classic case of nature versus nurture. Some just have the talent and that "it" factor to will themselves into playing shape. Others are reliant on the situation, and a thousand and one things have to go well for them to pan out. Some might need a healthy environment, and others might need the in-game minutes to make their rookie mistakes.

The Milwaukee Bucks are at a critical juncture as the preseason winds down, and head coach Doc Rivers faces a pivotal decision regarding his bench. With the regular season looming and the team's roster all but set, the burning question remains: Which young player, if any, will emerge to claim valuable minutes?

For the first time in a while, Milwaukee has new blood to develop. It's a good problem to have when you have two, three, maybe four people on the roster who can, in theory, give you productive minutes. This writer, too, has long been calling for the Milwaukee Bucks to go all-in on player development to upgrade their playoff pieces and future-proof themselves for the post-Giannis Antetokounmpo era.

"We wanted young talent, we did. We think that skill development in our league is becoming more and more important, and the more young talent you can get to bring up with the veteran talent, the better. And that's what we're going to do all summer," Bucks head coach Doc Rivers told reporters during the rookies' introductory press conference after the NBA Draft. 

So far, though, the preseason has not provided a clear answer, leaving fans and analysts alike wondering who will step up.

The Bucks' young players have not developed as expected

The reality is that none of the Milwaukee Bucks’ young players have made any noticeable impact thus far. It's hard to stomach, considering just how high expectations were for a number of them and the flashes they already showed last season.

Let's start with MarJon Beauchamp, who is already going on his third year in the association. In his freshman and sophomore campaigns, he's shown vestiges of defense, hustle, floor-spacing and even shot creation. Yet, one important trait that has largely eluded him is consistency. As the most senior of Milwaukee's young players, Beauchamp has struggled against ostensibly weaker competition in both the NBA Summer League and the team's exhibition games.

AJ Johnson and Tyler Smith, both rookies, have shown flashes of potential but have yet to capitalize on their opportunities. Johnson’s performance started out extremely impressive, but his rookie jitters are still very much there.

For instance, in a recent game against the Bulls, he logged significant minutes but managed only six points on a dismal 2-of-15 shooting. Still, he's by and large leading the pack in the chances he's getting - he's averaging 20.3 minutes a night so far through three exhibition games.

After a generally impressive showing at the NBA Summer League, Smith has also failed to find his rhythm on offense. Despite being billed as a knockdown shooter for his size, he's only converted on two of his 10 3-point attempts across three exhibition games.

Despite their struggles, both players possess attributes that could benefit the team. Johnson’s speed and court vision are promising, while Smith is known for his shooting ability. As they navigate their rookie seasons, inconsistency is to be expected, and it would make more sense for the more established young players to get their minutes ahead of rookies.

Yet, this hasn't been what we've seen at all, and Doc Rivers has been playing an assortment of young players without rhyme or reason. So far, the rookie Johnson is leading the race and seems to have RIvers' good graces down pat.

Andre Jackson Jr. made a compelling case for himself during last year's playoff series against the Indiana Pacers, but at this point, the idea of what he can do paints a much brighter picture than what he's already done so far.

The hope was that he could become a solid impact player for the Bucks over time with his unabashed energy, but his offensive limitations skew his impact more towards one side of the floor. His defense and energy will always be there, but the other components to round out his game on the offensive end are still a huge question mark thus far.

AJ Green has always had the makings of a 3-and-D specialist, but he has shown so far in these preseason games that if his shot's not falling, there isn't a lot else he can do for the team that translates to winning basketball. He's still a decent defender, but with the logjam at the wing position, Rivers will have many, many options to choose from who can give him just that.

One such option is Chris Livingston, for instance. His ability to defend multiple positions aligns well with the team's identity, but he hasn't gotten many opportunities thus far. If even preseason minutes are a tall task for the sophomore forward, it might be telling of the kind of performances he's putting up in practices.

Still, just like Jackson, the idea of Livingston is fascinating, at least on paper. He's grown to 6-foot-7.5 now and might have the best physical tools out of all the young Milwaukee Bucks to be a genuinely competent defender across multiple positions. But again, consistency will be key, and the first step to cracking the rotation is earning any minutes at all.

Doc Rivers needs to choose which young Buck to invest playing time in

With the regular season set to begin on October 23 against the Philadelphia 76ers, Rivers must weigh his options carefully. The Milwaukee Bucks need reliable scoring and defensive contributions from their bench to complement their star duo effectively. The challenge lies in whether he can trust any of the young Bucks to deliver consistent performances.

Rivers has acknowledged the importance of developing young talent but must balance that with immediate team needs. Asked what advice he likes to give rookies at a press conference, Rivers said:

"Be competitive. Don't be awestruck. Look everyone in the eye. Respect all veterans, and then try to kick their butt. That's what I tell all young guys.

I get it. You're in the gym with Damian Lillard, right? Giannis, Bobby, Brook. But you know, it's funny, this is a competitive league, and the competition starts in this gym first, and then against the opponent second. So I want them to be as competitive as possible. I think that's very important for them."

As time runs out on preseason evaluations, Doc Rivers must make a crucial call regarding the Milwaukee Bucks' bench. Will he gamble on youth in Johnson and Smith or rely on veterans like Pat Connaughton once more?

With no clear frontrunner emerging from the young contingent so far, this decision could significantly impact Milwaukee’s quest for success in what promises to be a competitive Eastern Conference. The clock is ticking—who will seize their moment? It will be a fascinating decision.

Stay tuned for more Milwaukee Bucks analysis.