Milwaukee Bucks should consider assigning AJ Green a starting position in their lineup.
The Milwaukee Bucks, post-trade deadline shuffle, are still figuring things out. Yet, one thing's crystal clear: AJ Green deserves a place in the starting five.
The Bucks said goodbye to Khris Middleton, AJ Johnson, MarJon Beauchamp, and Delon Wright, ushering in Kyle Kuzma, Jericho Sims, and Kevin Porter Jr. as their newcomers.
Kuzma and Porter Jr. are serving their time off the bench, while Kuzma, the star acquisition, took charge in the starting lineup. Lillard (6-foot-3), Prince (6-foot-8), Kuzma (6-foot-9), Antetokounmpo (6-foot-11), and Lopez (7-foot-0) form a formidable quintet. However, this towering assembly brings challenges as well.
The starters lack open spacing, especially beyond the arc. Lillard commands attention, but Prince's shot consistency is questionable, while Kuzma's poor three-point shooting makes defenders rejoice. Missing open shots grants permission for opponents to crowd the frontcourt, neck-deep. Green could instantly change that, offering reliable three-point strikes.
Defensively, the Bucks stumble. Prince is a sound defender, but not built for quick, fleet-footed ball-handlers. The Eastern Conference is abound with dynamic perimeter handlers, making the Bucks' armor vulnerable. Green alone might not mend the issue, but he can provide a more nimble presence and disrupt opposition's offense more often.
Employing Green in the starting lineup could be a magnificent decision. His eye-popping scoring prowess, coupled with a knack for floor-spacing, hangs a relentless pressure on the opposition, drawing defenders towards him and Lillard. Green's energy-laden, activity-driven game plants uncertainty among defenders, strengthening the Bucks' stagnant offense.
So far, the new starters' court chemistry is wavering. The Lillard-Prince-Kuzma-Antetokounmpo-Lopez lineup has yielded a negative 14.6 point differential per 100 possessions. Green's brief, under-15-possession stint with the starters has yet to prove his merit, but his abilities are telling.
Green must step in and offer respite for the struggling lineup. Milwaukee needs better spacing, a dependable face to shield from perimeter raiders, and a fearless, sprint-forward game tamer. Green fits the bill. Introduce him to the first team, Bucks fans. The time's ripe.
AJ Green's athleticism could significantly improve the Bucks' three-point shooting, as his reliable strikes would create more open spacing and deter opponents from crowding the frontcourt. The integration of Green into the starting five could also strengthen the team's defense, as his nimble presence could disrupt opposing offenses and provide a more effective counter against quick, fleet-footed ball-handlers. With the current starters struggling to find their chemistry, introducing Green could be the key to improving Milwaukee's stagnant offense and vulnerable defense.