Milwaukee Bucks: 3 reasons Tucker will help reach the NBA Finals

Versatile Defender

The adage says that “defense wins championships.” Throughout NBA history, that has proven to be true. Although the award has only been in existence since 1983, five Defensive Player of the Year winners have come from teams that have gone on to win that season’s NBA championship.

PJ Tucker has been considered one of the premier defensive players in the league since he became an integral part of Mike D’Antoni’s small-ball experiment for the Houston Rockets. At only 6’5″, Tucker has the foot speed to guard small forwards while also possessing the girth to bang bodies with power forwards.

If an opposing coach decides that he will implement his own version of small ball and play an undersized center, Tucker may find himself playing defense in the middle. Tucker’s versatility on defense gives Mike Budenholzer a myriad of options when deciding what lineup to put on the floor.

Last season, Antetokounmpo walked away with the NBA’s Defensive Player of the Year award. Jrue Holiday was once named to the NBA’s All-Defensive First Team. The Bucks are a high-IQ defensive team with several guys who are elite on that side of the ball. Adding Tucker to the mix only makes them that much more lethal. With Tucker’s ability to guard multiple positions, the Bucks will be able to offset any adjustments opposing coaches make with their lineups.