Giannis talk gaining momentum...

Both are so raw.  

 

Tank for another year, then start making runs.  Drop the extension talks with Knight.  

The movement of LeBron James really shook up the east, obviously. Cleveland, Chicago, Miami, New Jersey, Toronto, Indiana (depleted), a rising Washington team, and the Knicks and Hawks on the fringe. The Bucks Won't be a playoff team in the EC now unless some seismic event happens. If Parker plays like MJ and Antetokoumpo plays like Pippen, maybe. That's not going to happen.

But I don't think they can tank. If they're smart, they move Knight on a deadline deal for a versatile G that doesn't need the ball every possession. They don't need to extend knight... They need to showcase him and deal him.

Aaron Rodgers (today) on Bucks F Jabari Parker: "I think he’s a Bears fan. There’s plenty of room on the bandwagon …relay that to Jabari."

The wild card is Sanders.  If he is motivated and plays to his ability this team could be significantly better than people think.   He is such a dynamic inside force on the glass and as a shot blocker. 

Henson also seems to be playing better and I like Marshall at the PG position.   I think they still need one more piece to the puzzle but they are heading in the right direction.

I think the reality is setting in that Antetokounmpo is not close to being an NBA caliber player yet. I think it's all there, everything you need, but I just don't know if we're going to see that anytime soon. I figure 160+ games will do everything for him, but to expect more now is just not real.

Parker is a different story. Still has a long way to go, but he's a lot closer. You can already see the NBA game showing through. By the end of this year he'll be pretty good already. Giannis will be trailing, and I don't think it'll be at PG. It may be a gimmicky that JV now, but not if he's g ing the NEB part of a championship caliber team. The skills will be nice, but he's no PG.

This is why I was critical early on when there were comments made about moving Giannis all over the place.   He's not a PG.  I know he's got a lot of talent but it needs to translate at some point.

 

Parker needs to get used to the NBA game and the NBA season but I think what we are seeing now is what many of the scouts said before he was drafted.  He may not have the "wow" factor but he's extremely polished and consistent and reliable.   If he's not a 15/10 guy this year and eventually a 20/10 guy I'll be surprised.    

Parker's a better athlete than Big Dog was, with what seems to me to be a greater desire to be great. But the game itself is very similar. I Expect him to exceed Big Dog's career.

But Giannis has no comparable player. He's so unique. But will the tutelage of Jason Kidd be right for him? Will they develop a system that looks more like an NBA professional basketball system? The hiring of Kidd was supposed to tell us the answer is yes. If the answer is no, the franchise has to sports cars with no tires on the rims. They'll never get as far as they should.

Parker will poop out mid year.  Next year will be when Milwaukee gets to see what it has.

 

This team will win 20 games, but will be fun to watch.  

 

If Parker can eclipse Big Dog, that would be pretty sweet.  Robinson is the second leading scorer in team history, averaged 20 points per game until his knees quit.  

If Knight, Mayo, Sanders, and Henson play really good basketball, they could conceivably challenge for a playoff spot. There's a pretty fair amount of talent there. Knight and Mayo have it in them to be dynamic scorers. If they assert themselves and play really strong team ball, then they could challenge the Nets or Knicks for an 8th seed. It is not inconceivable.

But this would also take career years from Knight/Henson/Sanders and a true departure of the past from Mayo. And if these guys all show that, would the Bucks be better off dealing them as they continue to rebuild? That would be an interesting development...

If one thing, maybe.

 

If 4 things, pipe dream.  

Oh yeah... It's far fetched. But crazy enough, or could happen. 2 of the 4 are in price it years...

People forget that they got nothing from Sanders last year and won 20 games.  They also didn't have Parker and Giannis has a year under his belt. 

I think 30 wins is not out of the question if their team plays to their ability.  If they don't it's probably a 10 game swing the other direction.

techincally, they only won 15 last season.

 

But I agree with your point.  I think they'll win about 28 this year.  6th-8th worst or so.

If you haven't caught a Bucks game yet this year, tune in.. this kid is something special at 19.  While his is not the alpha dog scorer yet, you can really see it starting to sink in with him.  He is progressing very steadily... right now he looks like the best player on the team most of the time.

 

Brandon Knight isn't playing half bad either.  While he isn't an optimal PG, he is driving his trade value up (if that is the direction the Bucks go with him).

In May or June. Ray Allen is coming in for half a second, to show him how to sink a three.

Giannis has come around a bit lately after a slow start to the season.

What I like about this team is just that-  they are playing as a team.  No hogging the ball and they are learning how to close games out and finish.  So many NBA games are decided in the final minutes and how you defend and execute down the stretch is usually the difference between winning and losing.  So far, so good.

I think as the season goes on opposing teams will be able to scout the Bucks a little better and the talent gap will probably factor in but there is no question this team is on the upswing.   I still think they need a couple more pieces- preferably another skilled big man to compliment or rotate with Sanders and another guy that could hit 3s.

Kid is playing it up in Europe...

http://espn.go.com/video/clip?id=13616006

Thanks MC. Giannis is the next superstar. He's coming in hot for 2015-16. Man, I am SO stoked to see this Bucks team in action this season. wow.

 

Oh yeah, then there is this:  http://journaltimes.com/sports...0a-b5fa80f3d6b5.html

There's going to be growing pains. And the EC is improved with Indiana getting their star back this year, Wahsington a year wiser, and Miami making some dolid off-season moves. Chicago should still be good (though I see a decline), torontobis alwaysxa wild card, and Atlanta tying to prove last year wasnt a fluke. And Cleveland probably the best in the conference.

Playoffs is not going to be easy, but if Parker and Antetokoumpo rise, so will this team's chances to be a top 4 team.

I think with the additions of Greg Monroe, Greivis Vasquez, Chris Copeland and Rashad Vaugn, along with the re-signing of Middleton, the Bucks will be a completely different team than what we knew last season.

 

We have a huge post game now with Monroe, who is also a great passer. Vasquez, Copeland, Middleton and Vaughn will be popping from outside on kickouts. We went from having one player who can shoot from outside to four who can pop with deadly accuracy. That Copeland signing is pure genius. He'll be a good scorer for them off the bench, and Vaughn, a great pure shooter, won't have to be rushed in to contribute.

 

MCW, Giannis, Henson are all going to be improved. Then at some point we get Parker back, who from all reports is looking really good.

 

You're right MC, there will be some growing pains as they learn to play together, but with Kidd's emphasis on D, and the ability of this team to score now in multiple ways, this Bucks team could very well contend by year's end. If you like good defense in hoops, this is going to be incredible to watch.

 

BTW, I think the Vasquez trade will prove bigger than many might have imagined. He is a savy veteran leader, and hand picked by Kidd to play both the 1 and 2. The guy can shoot, and D.

 

Preseason starts in less than 1 month! Oct. 6th @ CHI.

They completely overachieved last year but if everyone plays well this is a 50 win team IMO

There is no reason why Milwaukee can't finish in the top 5 in the conference. Monroe and Vasquez weren't part of the team and Parker basically missed the entire year.

Bucks are best when passing the ball and spreading the court.

I expect them to be better and more consistant with their spacing this season.

And with that spacing you gotta hit the open look. after they traded Knight, they stopped shooting the ball. MCW and Giannis were drawing defenders by getting in the lane- then Dudley, Mayo, and Ilyasova would clank the shot. Middleton and Parker and Vasquez... even Monroe, they'll get looks. Need to put them in. Then their defense really gets a chance to shine.

Vasquez, Copeland and Vaughn added to Middleton ought to take care of that. All of them great, pure shooters. This won't be anything like the Dudley, Ersan days. Far better. I'm stoked to see it.

Unless some injuries happen, I don't know if you're going to see much from Vaughn. Mayo and Middleton are the 2G rotation, with Vasquez filling in both G spots in a pinch. That 4 G rotation should be pretty set.

Now from night to night, Vaughn will get some PT when a guy goes down of gets a night off, and when he's in there he'll have a shot to show he belongs. But it's very unlikely he'll get big minutes unless there's a rash of injuries.

Not sure if Cope's going to get a lot of PT. if Parker struggles out the gate, he could see some extra PT, as well as some matchup opportunities and when guys get some nights off. Early on in guessing Parker will be eased back into steady PT. then Cope will get some extra time.

Yeah, not expecting a lot of minutes for Copeland nor for Vaughn, but good to know when they do get them, they can drain it. We went from having 1 really pure shooter in Middleton to now having 4 of them. Just what the doctor ordered! And, as you mentioned, there is OJ Mayo who can light it up too.