Green sees opportunity in Giannis' absence.
The Milwaukee Bucks are in the middle of a rough stretch, but guard AJ Green sees a chance for the team to grow while star forward Giannis Antetokounmpo recovers from a groin injury.
After the Bucks' 129-116 loss to the Detroit Pistons on Saturday night, Green shared his thoughts on how Milwaukee can use this time without their two-time MVP to become a better team.
"We play fast with him, but we can play faster," Green said. "I think it'll be to our advantage both in transition and in the half-court. I think if we can really get on the same page of playing together, get the ball moving, having that as who we are, and then whenever he comes back, obviously you have what he does, and being able to do those things together with what he does, it's going to make us even more dangerous offensively."
The Bucks' Struggles Without Their Star
Milwaukee has now lost four straight games and sits at 8-9 on the season, dropping below .500 for the first time this year.
Antetokounmpo, who suffered a low-grade left groin strain on November 17 against the Cleveland Cavaliers, is expected to miss one to two weeks, with head coach Doc Rivers saying he anticipates about a two-week absence.
Before the injury, Antetokounmpo was having another monster season, averaging 31.2 points, 10.8 rebounds, and 6.8 assists per game while shooting an incredible 62.9 percent from the field.
The Bucks are now 1-4 in games where Giannis doesn't play this season, showing just how much they rely on his presence.
Ryan Rollins Has Stepped Up in a Big Way
While the losses have piled up, one bright spot has been the breakout play of guard Ryan Rollins.
The 23-year-old has become a legitimate Most Improved Player candidate and has carried the offense in Giannis' absence, putting up averages of 28.2 points, 8.7 assists, and 4.7 rebounds over the past four games.
On the season, Rollins is averaging 18.6 points and 5.9 assists per game, a huge jump from the 6.2 points and 1.9 assists he averaged last year.
He's shooting 51 percent from the field and 44 percent from three-point range, showing that his three-year, $12 million contract he signed before the season looks like a bargain for Milwaukee.
"It's just the start for me, man, that's how I look at it," Rollins said earlier this season after scoring a career-high 32 points. "Just a good platform to get situated, and then I just go from there. Keep doing what I'm doing that got me here. Just keep growing."
When Will Giannis Return?
The good news for the Bucks is that Antetokounmpo's injury is considered minor. Doc Rivers has called it "not a bad one" and said the team sees the diagnosis as "good news" compared to more serious groin injuries.
A return in late November or early December seems likely if his recovery goes well.
Until then, Green and his teammates want to use this stretch to develop their identity as a team.
Green, who is averaging 11.0 points per game this season while shooting 48.2 percent from three-point range, believes the ball movement and pace they build now will only help when their star comes back.
"You really got to see this time, it's not a positive, obviously," Green said. "But can we make the most of it and be proactive to build more of who we are."
The Bucks host the Portland Trail Blazers on Monday night looking to snap their four-game losing streak.