Milwaukee Bucks coach Doc Rivers addressed the team's lineup change on Friday
In between consecutive games against the Charlotte Hornets this week, Milwaukee Bucks coach Doc Rivers made a change to the starting lineup that may have made all the difference in the world in Friday’s 147-134 win in overtime. After dropping the first game in Charlotte on Wednesday, Rivers inserted Kyle Kuzma into the lineup for Gary Trent for the second.
The move clearly paid off in spades, as Kuzma dropped a team-high 29 points on 11-of-17 shooting to lead the Bucks’ bounceback effort. Friday’s performance marked Kuzma’s season-high in scoring thus far and was his second 25+ performance in his last three games.
Rivers addressed his decision to swap Trent for Kuzma in the starting lineup on Friday, explaining that it was largely because of the size Kuzma presents defensively. Rivers also pointed out that Kuzma brings additional options offensively as an off-ball cutter, which gives the Bucks a safety valve when Giannis Antetokounmpo gets trapped.
“I just thought we needed to size defensively,” Rivers said. “I love Kuzma with that group because when Giannis gets trapped, Kuzma is the cutter now, and we leave Myles out where the five is uncomfortable. That really paid dividends in the overtime, where fourth quarter, that's when Myles got those three. And then I just thought the defensive part of it.”
When asked whether the change to the starting lineup resulted in a trickle effect that bled into other rotations, Rivers pointed out that it was actually just foul trouble that put the Bucks in a position of playing further unfamiliar lineups.
© Jim Dedmon-Imagn Images“I just thought we're looking at (Kuzma), and I kept thinking, man, I know he can defend, and he has a high IQ", Rivers said. “He'll find ways to get shots, and he did that. So, our rotations got messed up because of the fouls and the extended minutes in the first half, but I liked it overall.”
The Bucks will look to win consecutive games for the first time this month on Saturday as they take on the Los Angeles Lakers at the Fiserv Forum in a game that will be nationally televised on NBATV. Milwaukee has alternated wins and losses dating back to a 120-110 win over the Golden State Warriors on Oct. 30, in which the Bucks beat Golden State sans Antetokounmpo.
Tip-off for Saturday’s game is set for 7 p.m. CST. and the Bucks are -1.5 point favorites.