The NBA trade deadline has come and gone and for the most part, teams are done making the final adjustments to their rosters. Although a couple of big names relocated after being bought out by their prior teams, the usual suspects in each conference remain favored to reach the Finals.
One team that entered the season as a contender is the Milwaukee Bucks. After getting off to a rough start to the season, the team seems to have hit its stride as of late. A key move before the trade deadline was the acquisition of veteran forward PJ Tucker. Adding a wily veteran to an already elite roster has been a tactic implemented by NBA teams for years.
In 1989, a disgruntled Adrian Dantley complained that Detroit Pistons All-Star guard Isiah Thomas was taking too many shots. Instead of discussing the matter, management sent Dantley to the Dallas Mavericks in exchange for Isiah’s childhood friend Mark Aguirre. The Pistons would go on to win the world championship that season and would repeat the feat the following year. Milwaukee Bucks fans are hoping Tucker’s arrival in Cream City has the same result as Aguirre’s addition to the Bad Boys all those years ago.
The Milwaukee Bucks have not been to the NBA Finals since 1971. Newly acquired forward PJ Tucker will help them get back to the biggest stage in basketball.
The Milwaukee Bucks recently signed star point guard Jrue Holiday to a four-year extension. Before the season, they managed to convince Giannis Antetokounmpo to sign a super-max extension that would keep him in town long-term. Having already inked All-Star forward Khris Middleton to a long-term deal, the Bucks have secured the best “Big 3” in all of basketball. Adding PJ Tucker to this roster makes them the favorite to represent the Eastern Conference in this year’s NBA Finals. Here’s why.
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.
Underrated passer
This season, Jrue Holiday is averaging 5.4 assists per game. In a league where John Stockton once averaged 14.5 assists per game, score-first point guards have gone from the exception to the norm.
In the modern era of unconventional offenses, forwards have more playmaking responsibilities than ever. While a member of the Houston Rockets, Tucker could often be seen throwing a lob pass to Clint Capela for a slam or kicking the ball out of the paint to James Harden for an open 3-pointer. Encouraged by Mike D’Antoni’s wide-open style, Tucker’s ability to make decisions with the ball grew and his acumen as a passer expanded exponentially.
Antetokounmpo and Middleton are a high-scoring duo who need the ball in the right spots to be effective. With Tucker’s passing ability, Budenholzer doesn’t have to second guess whether he can put his newest acquisition in the lineup with his two All-Stars. The former Texas Longhorn is a high IQ player capable of making an impact with a variety of lineups.
NBA pundits went wild when the already loaded Brooklyn Nets acquired former All-Stars Blake Griffin and LaMarcus Aldridge. However, fans rooting for the Nets should remember that there’s only one ball on the court. While James Harden has sacrificed his scoring admirably since joining the team, it is his playmaking ability that has allowed him to continue being an impact player. Unfortunately for Nets fans, Griffin and Aldridge do not possess that skill set. The Bucks on the other hand added a player in Tucker who fits right in with what they were already doing. Milwaukee’s addition will help while Brooklyn’s additions could hinder. Advantage Bucks.
Corner 3-pointer
When Giannis drives to the paint, there is not a single defender in the NBA who can stop him. However, when the paint is clogged by numerous defenders, he is often forced to kick the ball out to open teammates. While there are several players on Milwaukee’s roster who have proven to be capable shooters, Tucker has a niche from beyond the arc that will come in handy during the playoffs.
The corner 3-point shot is an effective weapon to use against double teams because the second defender often comes from the weak side of the ball. If the player who drives to the basket has a good passing angle, he will often have a teammate open on the wing. Last season, Tucker started the year off shooting a blistering 57.8 percent on corner 3-point shots. If Tucker can connect at that rate come playoff times, a lot of teams will either regret double-teaming Giannis or stop doing it altogether.
The Bucks are a franchise that’s been starving for an NBA championship since their lone title in 1971. They’ve been a contender for the last few seasons but haven’t been able to get over the hump. Obtaining Holiday to go along with Antetekounmpo and Middleton was a step in the right direction. Adding PJ Tucker to the equation sealed the deal. The right roster is finally in place.