What will it take for the Milwaukee Bucks to contend for a championship?

One point of emphasis for each of the Milwaukee Bucks’ role players.

Come playoff time, rotations are shortened and coaches turn to their top seven or eight players to carry the workload. Role players need to stay ready for their big moment and this year, the assignment is clear: Make the lives of Milwaukee’s top three players easier with your presence on the court.

With that being the case, here’s one factor for key role players to be mindful of in the postseason.

Donte DiVincenzo: Embrace the nastiness of postseason basketball.

There’s no denying that DiVincenzo is a hard-nosed competitor. During this postseason run, his job description is simple: Hustle, move the ball from point A to point B, be wise with your shot selection and pester your defensive assignment at all costs.

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‘The Big Ragu’ is a gamer. Dating back to his days at Villanova, DiVincenzo has been known for picking up the intensity when his team needs it most. With each season, his experience level improves and his confidence grows. So long as he trusts in himself and doesn’t get too eager, he’s going to make an impact for the Bucks.

P.J. Tucker: Remember why the Bucks traded for you.

Before being traded to Milwaukee, P.J. Tucker was having an ugly season with the tanking Houston Rockets. He didn’t play much and when he did, he mostly stunk it up without the offense being dictated by a superstar initiator in James Harden.

Milwaukee saved him from that scenario because they believe in the version of Tucker that we’ve seen over years of competitive postseason basketball in Houston. The Bucks needed an extra defender who can guard players at multiple positions while providing the floor spacing necessary to run the offense through Giannis. More than anything, the Bucks need Tucker to do what he’s best at: Draining spot-up 3-pointers and giving his defensive assignment hell.

Brook Lopez: Take advantage of your matchup.

In the latter years of his career, Brook Lopez has become an amalgamation of his former self and what teams want from their starting center. Dubbed ‘Splash Mountain’ for his sudden 3-point onslaught earlier in his Bucks career, Lopez hasn’t shot the ball particularly well in either of his last two regular seasons.

In this year’s playoffs, Lopez needs to stick true to who he is as a player. His matchup is going to change based on the series and based on adjustments, but there will always be an area for him to take advantage of his opponent. Whether it be by forcing them out to the 3-point line or by bullying them in the post, Lopez can be the steadying two-way presence that the Bucks need to win a title this year. He needs to remember the fundamentals that got him to this point in his NBA career.

Bobby Portis: Bring some nasty!

Bryn Forbes: Fight past the off-ball screens that you know are coming to attack you.

Pat Connaughton: Make the most of your minutes when they come.

Jeff Teague: Get the ball into the hands of your best players.