The Milwaukee Bucks are still deep in the lab, mixing and matching lineups in search of the right formula-and Kevin Porter Jr.’s return just gave them another ingredient to work with. Against the Brooklyn Nets, the Bucks rolled out a new starting five featuring Porter and Ryan Rollins in the backcourt, AJ Green sliding in at small forward, and the frontcourt duo of Giannis Antetokounmpo and Myles Turner. It worked well in the win, but the big question now is: can this smaller lineup hold up over time?
Let’s start with the obvious-this group is undersized, especially on the wing. At 6-foot-4, AJ Green is giving up length most nights when defending opposing small forwards.
And while he’s been a solid contributor this season, his physicality has come at a cost. Green leads the league in first-quarter fouls with 24-five more than the next closest player.
That’s not a stat you want to be leading the NBA in, especially when your role requires you to guard taller, more physical wings.
Against the Nets, Green stayed clean with just one foul, but context matters. Brooklyn was missing two of their top scorers-Michael Porter Jr. and Cam Thomas-and doesn’t exactly have a high-level wing scorer to test him.
That test will come soon enough, with matchups looming against the likes of Jimmy Butler III, Jaylen Brown, and Jalen Johnson. Those are the types of players who can punish mismatches and put pressure on a defender like Green early and often.
Still, Milwaukee doesn’t have a ton of alternatives right now. Taurean Prince is sidelined following neck surgery.
Kyle Kuzma has been more effective coming off the bench. Gary Trent Jr. has a case, but his recent stretch has lacked the burst that made him a viable starter.
Amir Coffey isn’t in the mix for starting minutes. That leaves Green as the most logical option-for now.
There’s reason for optimism, though. The lineup clicked against Brooklyn.
The Porter-Rollins backcourt brought energy on both ends, with Porter showing flashes of the two-way play that makes him such an intriguing piece. Giannis and Turner did their usual damage, anchoring the paint and creating chaos defensively.
And Green? He knocked down five threes, benefiting from the spacing created by the lineup’s ball movement and shooting gravity.
If Green can replicate this kind of performance-staying out of foul trouble while spacing the floor and holding his own defensively-this group has a real shot to stick. It’s been a season of lineup roulette for Milwaukee, but this five-man unit might be the best hand they’ve played yet.
Of course, one strong showing against a depleted Nets squad doesn’t guarantee anything. But it’s a step in the right direction. The Bucks are still searching for consistency, and if this group can provide it, they may have finally found the lineup that brings balance to both ends of the floor.
Keep an eye on how this unit holds up when the competition stiffens. The Bucks are betting on versatility and chemistry-and for now, they might just be onto something.