The Milwaukee Bucks didn't have the loudest of offseason but they did get better around the edges. Acquisitions like Gary Trent Jr., Delon Wright and Taurean Prince to replace Patrick Beverley and Malik Beasley. Damian Lillard entering a true offseason preparation to return for his second year with the Bucks. Along with the engine of this team coming off a disappointing Olympics and NBA season for team standards, should be ignited. Many still doubt the Doc Rivers and this team having enough fire power to be an actual true contender in the east. ESPNS Zach Lowe was on The Bill Simmons Podcast discussing the biggest NBA concerns and Lowes first answer was the Bucks. I think they have been very underwhelming since their Championship in 2021. I believe this team will be a dominant regular season majority of this winning coming from an MVP season from Giannis Antetokounmpo. It will not be enough for this team to truly win as the rest of their bench needs to find an identity.
The new players will will have their roles and will have benefit to the team but, it doesn't mean anything if Lillard hasn't found a true groove. Shooting 42%/35%/92% it shows how impressive Lillard's standards are and how this shooting splits can be bad for him. Amazing to see Lillard play 73 games but he didn't look comfortable throughout the year never really having that unstoppable offense to carry their poor defense. "“It was a harder transition than I thought for real like just like I said because of my life (divorce) but then also like adjusting to playing with another great player (Giannis) and then also playing with Khris" (si.com). Lillard opened up on the transition but, being settled down in Milwaukee I expect to see a much more comfortable Dame Time.
Offseason moved Beasley to Detroit and Beverley decided to sign a contract for a team in Israel. To Beasleys credit he shot his career high 41% from three which will be needed to space out the Pistons. However, his defense and Beverly's antics on defense did not help like intended. Delon Wright on the other hand will be a good secondary ball handler and a POA defender (Point of attack) that will get starting minutes. Gary Trent Jr. will add similar shooting as Beasley but has much more potential to be locked in defensively. Taurean Prince adds a wing body that can space the floor an option I wouldn't mind going to if Pat Connaughton struggles.
In Ranking Both Conferences episode we both agreed that this Bucks team still doesn't have the role players to outmatch other contenders.
There are two big things I hate that I would address immediately if I were the Bucks. One being the bench scoring needs not to be the Bobby Portis show. I understand the how he is beloved by the fanbase and think that he should be the focal point of the bench unit. Portis was used much differently it felt like only stat really fluctuating dropping from 9.6 rebounds to 7.4 rebounds . I think that has a lot to do with the actual play-style of him having the ball away from the basket looking for him to score. I'd prefer the bucks to go out and trade for an off the bench bucket getter to pair along with Portis putting him back into a dirty working big. Which brings me to my second thing I'd address is Brook Lopez's time is nearing an end. I don't think Lopez is long past his rebounding days only averaging 5.6 rebounds last year. Blocks on the other hand have not dropped off 2.5 to 2.4 blocks this year. Which bares the question can his shooting keep not only him but this team a float. Giannis is a player that needs a specific type of center to pair with him so the paint is not clogged. This team is the oldest team with an average age of 28.21 according to NBA.com. Moving on from Lopez would bring you down as he is 36 going on his 17th season.
At the end of the day the Giannis and Dame need to be healthy for the postseason and they need to figure out some sort of supporting cast identity thought the season. With the league getting better their defense concerns me even more. I think this team has the ability to create an offensive juggernaut but I would have their fate being similar to last year.
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