Milwaukee Bucks
2008-09 Record: 34-48
Anticipated Starting Five
PG- Luke Ridnour
SG- Michael Redd
SF- Carlos Delfino
PF- Hakim Warrick
C- Andrew Bogut
Key Reserves: Charlie Bell, Luc Mbah a Moute, Brandon Jennings, Kurt Thomas, Joe Alexander
Biggest Strength: Front Court
Bucks should be a strong rebounding team, should block some shots and have a number of big guys shooting a high percentage from the field. Bogut, Warrick, Thomas, Johnson and Moute will form a strong core of centers and forwards to fortify the Bucks in the paint.
Biggest Weakness: Point guard
Right now I have no clue how is the starting point. I have to assume Skiles would lean towards the veteran Ridnour unless Jennings really shines in practice and preseason games. The ideal situation for the Bucks would resemble the progression last season. Ridnour starts the beginning of the season until Jennings gets comfortable and becomes the better options at point just like Sessions did last season. But the possibility of that happening is completely uncertain.
Key Player: Brandon Jennings
Jennings is the key because with the departure of Session, PG is now the weakest position on the roster. Ridnour is a 2nd string guy who shouldn’t be starting and Ukic stinks. Jennings IS the key now and in the future. He has everything you want physically but has a lot to learn. If he gets acclimated to the NBA game quickly AND commits on the defensive end the Bucks might be alright.
Biggest Question: Will Brandon Jennings’ play effect H.S. and College sports?
If Brandon Jennings, the first high schooler to go to Europe for a year instead of College, is successful in his first year in the pros, it could have a huge effect on H.S. stars in the future. Think about it this way: Would you rather go to school, study and take tests (theoretically at least) and live under strict NCAA regulations, or, would you rather go travel around Europe, make money and do whatever you want. If a kid knows they are going to the NBA, that 2nd option might be more appealing and it will be interesting to see if more kids take that route.
Best Individual Season of All-Time: Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, 1971-72
34.8 ppg, 16.6 rpg, 4.6 apg, 57.4 FG%
Just your typical 34 point, 16 rebound, 4.5 assist season. If they were counting blocks back then, you could add 3-4 of those as well. Wilt and Elgin are the only 2 to duplicate those numbers, but neither came close to that 57.4% FG%, the 2nd highest ever (to his year prior) for a 30 ppg scorer.
Pete’s 2010 Outlook: 5th place, Central division / 14th place, Eastern conference / 28th place, NBA
The Bucks saved some cap space by letting Charlie Villaneuva and Ramon Sessions go, and used that cap space to…do absolutely nothing. While they made a couple smart, low-cost moves (Warrick and Delfino), they only got worse from the team that finished 34-48 last year. They do have a couple of intriguing young player though in Jennings, Alexander and Mbah a Moute, but there is just not enough here for them to be competitive this season.
Dannie’s 2010 Outlook: 5th place, Central division / 14th place, Eastern conference / 28th place, NBA
Here’s the thing with the Bucks, I have them ranked low but that’s because they have more question marks than we do (Sixers). BUT if everything comes together (Jennings is a star, Mbah a Moute continues to develop, Bogut and Redd are healthy and at the top of their games etc. etc.) they could surprise people. They won 34 games last season without their best player (Redd) and Andrew Bogut for most of the season. They let Sessions and Villanueva walk. They replaced them with Brandon Jennings, Amir Johnson, Kurt Thomas and Hakim Warrick. If they stay healthy and buy-in to what Scott Skiles is preaching on defense I think they could be better than where most people are predicting them to finish.
See all 2010 NBA team previews
Im one of the very few Buck fans in Philly…Amir Johnson is no longer with the team, he’s now a Toronto Raptor. They went out and bought Ersan Ilyasova back(he was with the Bucks during the 06-07 season) and played the last couple year for FC Barcelona) and are actually expecting big things from him, maybe even to start at the SF position, spliting time with Mbah a Moute, ALexander & Delfino
I actually want to see Jennings fall flat on his face, at least early on. That shit he pulled at the draft is the reason basketball players have a terrible reputation for being divas and ego maniacs. I love basketball and I even feel sometimes that its a league full of wide receivers. It’s a shame the Bucks are so, so bad. I hate it for the league that there are teams like Milwaukee and LAC that never seem to put together a legitimate effort. I think Griffin’s got a chance to LeBron the Clippers out of irrelevancy but Jennings is not that guy and I foresee (read: hope for) a big time bust.
Garvey -
What are your expectations for the team this year?
36 – 46 Not too far off from last year, but I think they could falter and be around 29 wins. I think they could steal a few wins given Mike Redd goes nuts, or some of the shooters get hot, because they actually have some good defensive players inside and at the wing. Best case scenario for the team is if Bogut becomes a consistant 15-17pt./10 reb guy, Redd is fully healed, and the rotation of 3/4 Tweeners(Alexander, Mbah a Moute, Ilyasova, Skinny(Warrick)) Are productive.
The PG as you stated is a big time weakness and I think as far as a production standpoint, Jennings will take a Lou Will-like path. It will be about 2-3 years before he SHOULD actually be getting good Playing Time. However he will be trusted into a major role regardless even if he doesn’t start he’ll most likely see 22-25 mpg I think, because Ukic is dreadful(why is he in the league?) And Charlie Bell running point isn’t ideal.
To me the biggest Question Mark/Key for these guys is the rotation of 3/4 guys like I said. Looking at them on paper, they can either be moderately good, or absolutely terrible on any given night. You know what Redd gives you, as well as Warrick and to a certain extent Delfino. The others are all question marks.
I think the biggest problem right now is that management doesn’t seem to know if they want to rebuild or not. Get rid of RJ for cap flexibility, than let the Ramonster & Charlie NewHouse walk while welcoming the likes of Delfino and Kurt Thomas…Two players who could be productive on good teams, but I don’t see it here.
One guy you missed who the Bucks may give some PT is Jodie Meeks, rookie outta Kentucky, who shockingly reminds me a bit like the Bucks Starting SG.
Greatest strength(s):
-Scott Skiles
-Frontcourt
-Good players (when healthy in Redd, Ridnour, Bogut)
Greatest weakness(es):
-Point Guard position
-Sense of direction for this team
-Health
This team looks to be in tank mode and will be in competition with the Nets for the worst record in the Eastern Conference, as well as a high draft pick and salary space.
I say that the Bucks will be 5th in the Central, 15th in the East.
(On a side note, the Sixers will be 4-0 against the Bucks this season. I think this will be the team in the East the Sixers will sweep. Last season, the Sixers had to make unbelievable comebacks against the Bucks the last couple of meetings. This time, it should be easier.)