After a disappointing 1-6 start to the season, Milwaukee Bucks head coach Doc Rivers decided it was time for a change. Second-year wing Andre Jackson Jr. would replace Gary Trent Jr. in the starting lineup. It was a move to bring more athleticism and defense alongside Milwaukee’s stars Giannis Antetokounmpo and Damian Lillard. Trent Jr. was signed in the offseason to provide spacing but has struggled mightily with his outside shot.
The move immediately paid dividends, as the Bucks snapped their six-game skid Thursday with a 123-100 win over the visiting Utah Jazz. Jackson Jr. played 28 minutes in the game, recording 7 points, 4 rebounds, 4 assists, and 4 steals on 3-of-4 shooting from the field. The Bucks outscored the Jazz by 19 points when Jackson Jr. was on the floor. The team struggled with Trent Jr. on the floor. He played just 8 minutes and the Bucks were outscored by 14 points during that stretch. He didn’t see the floor at all in the second half.
Adding Jackson Jr. was a smart move by Rivers. Antetokounmpo and Lillard have had no trouble on the offensive end. Giannis is up to 31.0 PPG on a career-high 61.7-percent shooting. Lillard had an awful game against Memphis last week (1-for-12 shooting), but has been on fire ever since. In his last three games, Lillard is averaging 37.0 PPG and 7.7 APG while shooting 54 percent from three. The duo has it covered offensively. They need guys who can do the dirty work and defend multiple positions. Jackson Jr. is a great athlete and a former collegiate point guard with some playmaking chops. He’s an ideal fit with the starting group.
Since taking over the job, Rivers has received a lot of criticism. The Bucks had a 30-13 record before they fired Adrian Griffin midway through last season. With the win on Thursday, Milwaukee is 21-29 (including playoffs) under Rivers. That’s simply not good enough for a team with a two-time MVP and a seven-time All-NBA guard. Rivers will need to continue to tinker with the rotation to find the best possible combination.
He already demoted one veteran, and next on the list could be fifth starter Taurean Prince. Prince has started all eight games for the Bucks this season. He has a strong rapport with Bucks assistant coach Darvin Ham who coached him on the Los Angeles Lakers. However, Prince has always seemed to play better in a reserve role. They could use his steadiness off the bench.
In his place, sharpshooter A.J. Green would benefit from playing next to Milwaukee’s stars. Green has been on fire this season, shooting 61 percent from beyond the arc. After not playing against the Cavaliers last Saturday, Green played 31 minutes in Cleveland two days later and made 7-of-9 three-point attempts. In just 18 minutes versus the Jazz, Green was 4-of-6 from three. He’s a deadeye shooter that teams must respect anywhere on the floor. Making Green a starter while they await the return of Khris Middleton seems like a solid move.
The Bucks are down, but no team with Antetokoumpo is completely out of it. Rivers has the pieces to turn this season around. Only two teams in the Eastern Conference currently have a winning record. A slow start is palatable given the state of the conference. However, the Bucks can’t afford to fall too far back. Changes like this will be necessary for a team that has a smaller margin of error than ever before.
