That is backbreaking information for a Bucks staff, which—at the moment in fifth place within the Jap Convention—is desperately attempting to overhaul the fourth-seeded Pacers (at the moment only one recreation forward of the Bucks) and declare home-court benefit within the first spherical of the playoffs. Moreover, an prolonged Bobby Portis-related chilly spell might end result within the Bucks falling into the play-in vary—they at the moment have simply two extra wins than the seventh-seeded Orlando Magic. For a veteran-laden staff just like the Bucks, led by Giannis Antetokounmpo and Damian Lillard, falling into the play-in event—within the Jap Convention no much less—can be borderline catastrophic.
Sadly for the Bucks, with the best way their roster is at the moment constructed, they don’t seem to be all that well-equipped to cope with an prolonged absence from Portis. Portis has been one of many extra constant and dependable sixth males within the NBA over the past half-decade, and with out him, the Bucks’ already top-heavy roster turns into much more so.
In Portis’ absence, the Bucks will possible look to glean some additional dimension and scoring from a handful of gamers. At first, the newly acquired Kyle Kuzma seems like the obvious candidate to step up within the absence of Portis. The one downside is that Kuzma was introduced in as a substitute for Khris Middleton. Asking for Kuzma to be something greater than a 3rd possibility might include some wide-ranging outcomes. Head coach Doc Rivers must be cautious of how a lot he expands Kuzma’s position. Whereas Kuzma’s manufacturing by his 4 video games with the Bucks have been strong, his taking pictures slash of .423/.222/.680 just isn’t for the faint of coronary heart.
Wanting past Kuzma, the choice choices don’t enhance an entire lot. Portis seeped up lots of minutes because the Bucks’ backup heart behind Brook Lopez, however with Portis out of the image, count on to see lots of these minutes go to Giannis Antetokounmpo—at the moment out with a calf damage—and Jericho Sims—whos but to see the court docket after being acquired by the Bucks on the deadline.
Coach Doc Rivers might look to 2024 second-round decide Tyler Smith, a participant whose recreation mirrors Portis’s nearer than anybody else on the roster. However given Rivers’ longstanding proclivity to not hand massive minutes to rookies, this feels unlikely. Smith, who has solely performed 75 minutes throughout 15 video games all season lengthy, is unlikely to be the participant the Bucks lean on most throughout Portis’ suspension.
The Bucks are assuredly surveying all doable options proper now for his or her Portis downside. Sadly, the proper answer doesn’t seem to at the moment be on their roster. The significance of Portis to the Bucks is about to be placed on full show, and don’t be shocked in the event that they drop a seed or two within the Jap Convention standings because of his suspension.
