Doc Rivers has long shown a willingness to experiment with full bench units, so it was no surprise when he turned to one during the Milwaukee Bucks’ most recent lopsided defeat. Rivers played a lineup of Cam Thomas, Pete Nance, Kyle Kuzma, Jericho Sims, and Bobby Portis for 11 minutes. The group looked unusual on paper, but Rivers said after the game that he liked the energy and effort that unit brought during its time on the floor.
“I like it. I mean, they were a plus. Look at the plus-minus. It’s one group each night, right? The other night, it was the starters. Tonight, it’s the second group,” Doc Rivers commented via The Athletic’s Eric Nehm.
Thomas, Nance, Kuzma, Sims + Portis lineup played 11 minutes together last night.
Doc Rivers, on that lineup: "I like it. I mean, they were a plus. Look at the plus-minus. It's one group each night, right? The other night, it was the starters. Tonight, it's the second group." https://t.co/939s6e5iYk
— Eric Nehm (@eric_nehm) March 5, 2026
To be fair, something that does not get said often, Rivers was justified in pointing to the plus minus numbers. That lineup finished with a plus two rating across its 11 minutes on the court, a margin that can easily influence the outcome of a game.
Doc Rivers and the Bucks struggled against the Hawks
Jan 29, 2026; Washington, District of Columbia, USA; Milwaukee Bucks head coach Doc Rivers reacts to a call during the second half against the Washington Wizards at Capital One Arena. Mandatory Credit: Daniel Kucin Jr.-Imagn Images
Meanwhile, Milwaukee’s starting unit struggled to find its footing and ended the night with a minus 16 against the Atlanta Hawks. By contrast, the bench group injected some life into the game and briefly helped the Bucks stay competitive.
That said, it was just one game, and this lineup is not suited for sustained use. The group is extremely large, with four of the five players listed as power forwards or centers, and the shortest, Kyle Kuzma, standing at 6-foot-8.
The Bucks added Kuzma back into the rotation to play as a shooting guard, while Pete Nance has performed well but is not a natural small forward. Overall, the combination feels awkward and difficult to make work consistently.
Mar 4, 2026; Milwaukee, Wisconsin, USA; Milwaukee Bucks forward Kyle Kuzma (18) drives for the basket against Atlanta Hawks guard Corey Kispert (24) in the second quarter at Fiserv Forum. Mandatory Credit: Benny Sieu-Imagn Images
Following the loss to Atlanta, Rivers highlighted Milwaukee’s defensive struggles and suggested that the team might need to use bigger lineups to generate stops. This group fits that idea, offering plenty of height and length that can challenge opposing scorers. It looks promising on paper, but when other teams switch to smaller lineups, it could create new problems.
If the lineup keeps producing positive results, it makes sense to use it in the short term. Still, the likelihood of this five-man unit performing effectively over the long run is very low.