MILWAUKEE — Bobby Portis will take the court for the Milwaukee Bucks on Tuesday night, marking his return after nearly two months of absence.
Ironically, Portis’ last appearance was on February 12, in a closely contested 103-101 win against the Minnesota Timberwolves—who the Bucks face again on Tuesday. Shortly after, on February 20, the NBA suspended Portis for 25 games due to a positive test for Tramadol, an opioid listed among banned substances by the league.
For the past 55 days, Portis has been sidelined from official NBA games, participating only in practices and scrimmages. Bucks head coach Doc Rivers anticipates a surge of energy from Portis in his upcoming game. “Bobby’s going to foul out in like three minutes in the first game back,” Rivers joked after the team’s win over the Miami Heat on Saturday. “That’s 25 games of pent-up energy!”
Before Portis returns to play, let’s explore some recent trends affecting the Bucks as they head into the final week of the regular season.
One Play: AJ Green’s Passing
The Bucks showcased their offensive versatility during a back-to-back weekend, particularly utilizing Brook Lopez in screen-and-roll situations, reminiscent of his early NBA days. While often setting up for stars like Giannis Antetokounmpo and Kevin Porter Jr., they also deployed Lopez with 3-point specialist AJ Green.
Green has made a name for himself as a formidable 3-point shooter, prompting opposing defenses to focus heavily on him. This has led the Bucks to capitalize on this attention, creating opportunities for Green to make plays. He has amassed 100 assists this season, a significant increase from 33 last year, owing to his successful integration into the Bucks’ offensive schemes.
One Player: Kyle Kuzma
At the trade deadline, Bucks general manager Jon Horst brought in three new players, one of whom was Kyle Kuzma, a noteworthy addition. Kuzma has started in 28 games for Milwaukee, averaging 14.4 points, but has struggled to find his rhythm, posting his lowest effective field goal percentage at 49.6%. Coach Rivers noted that Kuzma is still adjusting to playing alongside established stars, and he will need to adapt quickly as the postseason approaches.
One Trend: Tiebreaker Scenarios
The Bucks (44-34) are currently positioned fifth in the Eastern Conference and have secured a playoff spot for the ninth consecutive year. However, their seeding remains uncertain, with possible finishes between fourth and sixth place.
The Bucks find themselves in a tight race with the Detroit Pistons for seed positioning, as both teams have yet to clinch their standings despite having only a few games left. The Bucks’ magic number to secure the fifth seed is three, and a win against the Timberwolves on Tuesday will be crucial. As the regular season nears its conclusion, securing favorable matchups will be critical for Milwaukee’s playoff aspirations.
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(Photo of Bobby Portis: David Sherman / NBAE via Getty Images)
