© Ron Chenoy-USA TODAY Sports
Milwaukee Bucks would do well to keep tabs on former player P.J. Tucker
The Milwaukee Bucks' recent success does not gloss over the fact that its defense remains a glaring weakness. One possible solution for the team's woes could be to keep tabs on former player P.J. Tucker, who has struggled to see the floor after getting traded to the Los Angeles Clippers.
Porous defense
The Bucks' offense—which features two members of the NBA's 75th Anniversary team in Giannis Antetokounmpo and Damian Lillard—is often explosive enough to overwhelm most opponents. But as the old adage goes, "defense wins championships," and that's been a major problem for Milwaukee this season.
The team has ranked near the bottom of the league in defensive rating this season. That lack of tenacity on defense has led to some tough losses throughout the season—including a defeat at the hands of their Eastern Conference rivals like Boston.
This is where Tucker can help; a 12-year veteran who helped the Bucks win the NBA title in 2021, his savvy and experience can help the team improve their defensive prowess, especially in the NBA Playoffs when the games tend to slow down and become more physical.
Still has some juice left in him
To be fair, Tucker isn't the cure-all to Milwaukee's defensive deficiencies. At 38 years of age, he has already lost a step and provides very little on offense outside of some three-pointers from the corner. However, the energy and toughness he brings to the floor, as well as the crucial pointers he can provide to the Bucks' youngsters, are invaluable.
"This team needs versatile defenders who can take on tough assignments, such as the wings in Boston and Miami, and Tucker can help with that. A duo of Tucker and Jae Crowder could give Milwaukee two incredibly experienced veterans known for their tough defense and communication skills," Dalton Sell wrote for Behind the Buck Pass.
