The Milwaukee Bucks have some of the NBA’s best players—Giannis Antetokounmpo and Damian Lillard—but as this season has shown, there will be times when it won’t be enough to deliver a win. This becomes even more pronounced in the postseason when rotations are shortened and opposing defenses target star players.
To counter this, teams often rely on their role players to step up and provide a boost off the bench. Two potential “x-factors” have emerged for the Bucks in Pat Beverley and AJ Green.
The sharpshooter Green
In the NBA Playoffs, the ball often finds itself in the hands of the very best players. However, the problem is the other team also knows this. This is where the role players really make a difference.
For the Bucks, AJ Green has been making a name for himself as one of their most reliable perimeter shooters off the bench. This season, he may average only 4.3 points per game, but under coach Doc Rivers, he has found a consistent role as someone Giannis and Lillard can kick out to for an open three-pointer.
“Green is a guy with a lightning-quick release, but he has shown more willingness to play defense this season. While he's not a lockdown defender, he's looked better since Doc Rivers took over,” Corey Moen wrote on Behind the Buck Pass.
“The aspect of Green's game that is enjoyable to watch is he's never afraid to shoot when he's open. With players in the past, like Thon Maker or Nikola Mirotic, that was their biggest knock. They deferred too often to Giannis Antetokounmpo or Khris Middleton, but now, the team has a guy who feels comfortable taking those shots in pressure-filled situations. That will help Milwaukee heading down the stretch.”
The culture changer
Everywhere Beverley goes almost always ends up the same: the fiery guard comes in and flips the script. His intensity and hustle on defense set the tone for his team and elevated the level of play for everyone else. He's not afraid to get in anyone's face, even if it's a superstar like Giannis.
“Since Patrick Beverley was acquired on Feb 8 for Cameron Payne and a second-round pick, the team has had a seismic shift from all-offense and no defense to all-defense and more efficient offense,” Moen said of Beverley.
“Beverley isn't known as an instant offense player, but his tenacity on defense and leadership help bring a winning culture to every team he's on.”
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