Milwaukee Bucks: The preseason presents itself as an opportunity for the players to get themselves back into game shape ahead of the new season. For the younger and less established members of the squad, it’s also a chance to make your mark on the team with the hope of making a big enough impact to be able to carve out a role for yourself for the regular season.
Unfortunately, this has not been the case for incoming second-year guard A.J. Green.
A.J. Green Shows Up for Milwaukee Bucks in Preseason Loss Vs. Thunder
Prior to Tuesday’s contest, Green’s only appearance for Milwaukee during the preseason was during their 108-102 loss against the Memphis Grizzlies on October 10. He didn’t make much of an impact either, taking just two attempts for three points in 12 minutes of action.
Green got another chance on Wednesday in Milwaukee’s blowout loss against the Oklahoma City Thunder. Head coach Adrian Griffin opted to rest a number of players on the rotation, and the 24-year-old took advantage of his opportunity. Green went 4-of-6 from the field for 13 points, with all of his field goal attempts coming from beyond the arc.
Green scored most of his points in the fourth quarter with both teams utilizing their reserve players. Nevertheless, it was still a good opportunity for the 6-foot-4 shooting guard to show what he could bring to the table, and so that’s exactly what he did.
Will A.J. Green Play a Significant Role for Bucks This Season?
Bucks reporter Eric Nehm of The Athletic provided some insight on Green’s performance against the Thunder as well as what he believes could be ahead for the young man heading into the new season. According to Nehm, Green could be in an uphill battle to fight for his spot in the rotation:
“Lillard’s addition gives the Bucks a bounty of 3-point shooting, so there is less of a need for a floor spacer like Green. But Green could end up being useful this season. He needs to continue to improve defensively, but he has shown that he can shoot, and he keeps getting stronger. The Bucks did not develop much young talent during Budenholzer’s time in Milwaukee, but Green may end up being a success story that Griffin gets to use moving forward,” Nehm wrote.
Green’s shooting will obviously be a key part of his success this season, and he will need to be efficient when he gets his chances. This won’t come often, especially with the Bucks leaning on a slew of veterans on their roster, plus the fact that there are also a couple of young studs ahead of him in the pecking order. As such, Green will need to take advantage of the opportunities when they come his way.
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