A new starting lineup helped the Milwaukee Bucks get their second win. Playing the Utah Jazz didn’t hurt either.
After the Bucks lost six straight games, coach Doc Rivers decided to swap one Junior for another. He sat Gary Trent Jr. in favor of Andre Jackson Jr., and the second-year shooting guard responded with seven points and four steals in 28 minutes as Milwaukee defeated Utah, 123-100.
Jackson, the No. 36 pick in the 2023 draft, made an immediate impact. He played nearly the entire first quarter, delivering four points, one rebound, an assist and two steals. Before Thursday’s win, he’d been playing just 12 minutes per game, but he was getting one “stock” (steals + blocks) each game even in that limited time.
Jackson isn’t a perfect player. He’s not much of a scorer, and he fouls too much — 17 fouls in his 100 minutes this season. But his athleticism and defense are badly needed in a Bucks starting lineup that doesn’t need additional scoring with Damian Lillard and Giannis Antetokounmpo, who combined for 65 points Thursday. They’re better off with an unselfish defender who is content to run, move the ball and knock down shots when he’s wide, wide open.
After the game, Rivers praised Jackson, calling him a “connector” for the starters and “a guy…that’s not trying to score but knows how to play and get to the right spot.”
Before the Bucks take too much away from the badly needed win, it’s important to remember they were playing the 1-7 Jazz, who have the NBA’s least efficient offense. However, one of Trent’s main attributes is his three-point shooting, and he’s making 23.1 percent of his three-point attempts.
In fact, Trent lost playing time to another Bucks reserve Thursday. A.J. Green, also known as “Dairy Bird,” had 12 points in 18 minutes off the bench. He shot 4-for-6 from deep, bringing his season total to an impressive 16-for-26 (61.5 percent).
With the way the Bucks have been playing, only the All-Star duo and center Brook Lopez are locked into playing time. If Rivers can tolerate the mistakes and growing pains of giving youngsters real minutes, 6-foot-11 rookie Tyler Smith could be the next young Buck to get a shot.
For at least one night, it was a youth movement in Milwaukee. Jackson’s trying to make it a permanent change.
