Milwaukee Bucks: Recommending a playoff rotation to Joe Prunty

Power Forward

• Giannis Antetokounmpo: 26 minutes
• Jabari Parker: 22 minutes

Power forward is the position where Giannis Antetokounmpo is best deployed, as his towering 6’11” frame can disrupt the shot of any 4 in the league. Offensively he is able to use his quickness and agility to wend his way through the defense and beat opposing power forwards to the rim.

Because of his versatility, Antetokounmpo ends up spending just 26 minutes at the 4, as Jabari Parker his spend all of his minutes here as well. Along with a handful of center minutes for the Greek Freak, the Bucks’ best player will ramp up to 40 minutes per game — three more than his season average. That will likely go up to 44 or so if the Bucks fall behind in a series.

Parker has averaged 21.8 minutes per game since his return from injury, and long-term will probably be in line for a number around 30. To make that a reality, the Bucks will have to lean more on lineups with Antetokounmpo at center, something they have been reluctant to do thus far this season.

Offensively Parker has shown much of his former pop, but his jumper is not yet back from where it was last season, when he averaged 20.1 points per game. Defensively he also has work to do, as opposing forwards have been beating him to the rim with ease. The Bucks need Parker to be successful at the 4, and as his first postseason approaches he will have the opportunity to step up.