The Milwaukee Bucks know they need to do everything they can to win another championship and convince Giannis Antetokounmpo to play out the rest of his career with the team.
Any result short of a deep playoff run would leave the door open for other teams to swoop in with offers if the Greek Freak calls the curtains on his time as a Buck.
The Bucks failed to make any meaningful changes to their roster in the offseason, but the players they brought to the team should make the team perform better if Giannis and Damian Lillard are healthy enough to play.
One major talking point for Bucks fans is the potential of switching things up strategically. Doc Rivers has the personnel to implement a small-ball lineup and cause plenty of matchup problems for the rest of their rivals in the Eastern Conference.
Apr 5, 2024; Milwaukee, Wisconsin, USA; Milwaukee Bucks guard Andre Jackson Jr. (44) puts up a shot against Toronto Raptors in the second half at Fiserv Forum. Mandatory Credit: Michael McLoone-USA TODAY Sports
Behind the Bucks Pass’ Dalton Sell agrees that Antetokounmpo could potentially serve as the center to a small-ball lineup that would have him play alongside Lillard, Delon, Wright, Taurean Prince, and Andre Jackson Jr.
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Four of the five names Sell mentioned have the talent and experience to pull off the tactic, which has the analyst pondering if Jackson would be able to adjust to the tactic enough:
The big question mark in this scenario is Andre Jackson Jr. In brief spurts, the wing showed potential to be everything the Milwaukee Bucks needed off the bench last year as a high-flying athlete capable of leaping out of the gym for a putback dunk or block. At 6-foot-6 with a near 6-foot-10 wingspan, he is another lengthy wing who can flat-out hound opponents.
Is Jackson ready for a big role in year two? Just about every Bucks fan will tell you yes, and justifiably so, given what he showed as a rookie. If the soon-to-be sophomore can get his proneness to foul under contract while continuing to shoot the long ball well, he should be guaranteed a spot in the rotation under Doc Rivers. He has all of the physical tools to thrive in this lineup defensively.
If the Bucks do decide to push forward with the small ball philosophy, Jackson will have a lot of responsibility to help the team win. However, he can become a great asset for the Bucks if he grows into the role in his second campaign with the team.
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