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Milwaukee Bucks: Ranking Giannis Antetokounmpo and the starting five

By Holden Walter-Warner

MIAMI, FLORIDA - DECEMBER 29: Giannis Antetokounmpo #34 of the Milwaukee Bucks high fives Jrue Holiday #21 against the Miami Heat during the first quarter at American Airlines Arena on December 29, 2020 in Miami, Florida. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Michael Reaves/Getty Images)
MIAMI, FLORIDA - DECEMBER 29: Giannis Antetokounmpo #34 of the Milwaukee Bucks high fives Jrue Holiday #21 against the Miami Heat during the first quarter at American Airlines Arena on December 29, 2020 in Miami, Florida. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Michael Reaves/Getty Images) /
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Milwaukee Bucks, Giannis Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images
Milwaukee Bucks, Giannis Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images /

The Milwaukee Bucks have remained consistent with their starting lineup around Giannis Antetokounmpo. How does each player rank as a starter on the team?

So far, the Milwaukee Bucks have validated their championship aspirations in 2020-21. They are 9-4, with a 0.5 game edge over the Indiana Pacers in the Central Division and the same lead over the Philadelphia 76ers and Boston Celtics for the Eastern Conference lead.

Mike Budenholzer has sent out the same starting lineup in all but one of the team’s games. Bobby Portis started in place of Giannis Antetokounmpo last Saturday in a win over the Cleveland Cavaliers after the MVP was ruled out with back spasms following a hard fall.

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The Bucks’ level of consistency and continuity can be considered a big factor in their success this season. It also makes an evaluation of their starters this season much more clear cut.

Milwaukee entered the year with a slightly different starting lineup from last season. Antetokounmpo returned to the lineup, of course, as did Khris Middleton and Brook Lopez. But Donte DiVincenzo entered the starting lineup on a full-time basis for the first time and Jrue Holiday joined the team following a trade from the New Orleans Pelicans.

The Bucks have been fortunate to be able to send out the same starting lineup night after night this season, something very few teams have come close to accomplishing. Whether it be injuries or COVID-19, that luck is bound to turn at some point. Until then, here’s a ranking of the starters for Milwaukee, from worst to first.

Milwaukee Bucks starter No. 5: Brook Lopez

Brook Lopez is now in his third season as the starting center for the Bucks. He’s never going to be the elite center he used to be, but he’s still serviceable in his role, especially as a floor spacer.

Much has been said about Lopez’s transition to an offensive player who stands on the perimeter and pops shots, but there’s no sign he plans on doing anything differently going forward. Lopez is shooting 36.4 percent from three on 5.1 attempts per game. He only averages 3.0 two-point attempts per game, easily the smallest amount among the Bucks’ starters. Lopez is also averaging 9.3 points per game, which would be the first single-digit scoring average of his career over the course of a season.

Lopez isn’t the rebounder he once was. He is averaging 5.3 rebounds per game, which ranks third among starters, but is still almost three full boards behind Portis, who comes off the bench. If it starts to drop, it will be the fourth straight season Lopez has averaged less than five rebounds per game.

While Lopez isn’t elite, you could do far worse for the fifth starter on a team. He made the All-Defensive Second Team just a year ago, the first time he was bestowed the honor. The fact that Lopez brings a 3-point dimension to his game would make him a valuable asset in almost any starting lineup across the league.

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