Bucks/NBA Prediction Thread - Locks at 6:00 p.m.

[blazza18]

Simmons reading out our rotation's age and experience then Russilo saying we only had one sure fire rotation guy in their 20's was pretty eye opening. Not anything we don't already know but when it's said out loud it's a bit of a shock still. That's why I'm kinda surprised people think we can be locked in pretty much every night and winning 55+ games. Even if we're good I just don't see that happening. There are going to be so many nights where the team just doesn't have it because they're old.

[-Jragon-]

*56 wins and 2nd seed
*Win a ring as guys figure it out
*2 all stars GA and Dame
*KM 2nd in 6th man voting -- doesn't start but comes in after 4 or 5 min

* I don't think Giannis is the X factor and league MVP.. a more humble Giannis takes a backseat and figures out how to be 2nd fiddle -- I think we'll be guard heavy this year but Giannis will be dunking left and right off dime passes

*Dame gets the keys and goes crazy like a bat outa hell -- think Iverson with a 3 ball and ends up in MVP conversations with the pundits discussing him.. spurts of huge scoring and spurts with all passing

*GTJ turns super by not having attention on him and takes full advantage with aggressive shot taking and drives -- think Jordan Poole and becomes widely known as our 3rd best player -- as a 2 way guy

*Midds on a reduced role stays healthy all year and comes in as instant, aggressive offense and back breaking spurts early to mid 4th to stretch leads to 20+

*Many more 20-30 point wins over bad teams this year and a lot of appearances/discussion about young guys garbage time minutes

*AJJ becomes a Beverly type this year and plays more valuable "disruptor" minutes

*Brook ends up with less minutes as we play smaller more often but he plays a bigger role from the post

[mediocrityrules]

I'll just cut and paste whatever my prediction was from last year. I'm sure I've said the same thing for 3 years running.

[Packbuckman]

Just listened to the annual over-under podcast from Bill Simmons.

Lost a little respect for those guys. Just a completely brain dead take on Milwaukee. Forget about contention, they think we are too old to be a 51 win team. I don't know how you can acknowledge that Giannis is still a top four player in the league but also come to that conclusion. The roster might not be ideal and we might be old but it's not like these guys are in their late 30s.

Im taking the over on that and i say we win 54 while dropping more than we should to manage some loads and prioritize health.

The starting 5 will have a ridiculous net rating and we will be seen as contenders again by the mid way point. Probably a slow start getting used to the changes and then off to the races.

we won 49 games last year with Dame, Giannis, and Brolo having pretty damn good health. midds only played 55 but do you expect him to play much more? all are a year older.

it's really not that crazy.

The only reason we won 49 games is the coaching change and Doc going one game under .500 in the last 30 something games that’s not going to happen again. This team is a lot better and a training camp under Doc this team should be up there for best record easily.

[jute2003]

The team is talented but still old slow and dumb.

48 win 4 seed
Second round exit

Giannis will be Giannis
Dame will be better
Midds and Lopez takes another half step back

Frustration

[chonestown]

I was talking about Ban Adofbayo to be clear

[emunney]

<--- Big Rhinelander fan here

[GiannisAnte34]

I feel like our coaching staff is the best its been in my lifetime, been watching since 2000-2001

[emunney]

Simmons reading out our rotation's age and experience then Russilo saying we only had one sure fire rotation guy in their 20's was pretty eye opening. Not anything we don't already know but when it's said out loud it's a bit of a shock still. That's why I'm kinda surprised people think we can be locked in pretty much every night and winning 55+ games. Even if we're good I just don't see that happening. There are going to be so many nights where the team just doesn't have it because they're old.

That's not true, though?

[pifhluk23]

Some of the takes... OOF

Giannis could take a team of G leaguers to 41 wins. This team without major injury is easily winning 50-55 games, really hoping they do it Bud style and keep Giannis and Dame under 32mpg and Lopez and Middleton under 30.

As for playoffs I'll be optimistic that we are healthy and win it all.

[-Jragon-]

The overwhelming majority's favorite lineup will be:

Dame
GTJ
Prince
KM
GA

Lanes and shooting all over and active hands. Someone creative will make a nickname for the lineup like Death's Wrath lineup

[MKE_Hodag22]

<--- Big Rhinelander fan here

Grew up there, Northwoods are the best.

[MartyConlonOnTheRun]

Just listened to the annual over-under podcast from Bill Simmons.

Lost a little respect for those guys. Just a completely brain dead take on Milwaukee. Forget about contention, they think we are too old to be a 51 win team. I don't know how you can acknowledge that Giannis is still a top four player in the league but also come to that conclusion. The roster might not be ideal and we might be old but it's not like these guys are in their late 30s.

Im taking the over on that and i say we win 54 while dropping more than we should to manage some loads and prioritize health.

The starting 5 will have a ridiculous net rating and we will be seen as contenders again by the mid way point. Probably a slow start getting used to the changes and then off to the races.

we won 49 games last year with Dame, Giannis, and Brolo having pretty damn good health. midds only played 55 but do you expect him to play much more? all are a year older.

it's really not that crazy.

The only reason we won 49 games is the coaching change and Doc going one game under .500 in the last 30 something games that’s not going to happen again. This team is a lot better and a training camp under Doc this team should be up there for best record easily.

as a dame and Giannis fan, I think this is the case. but you could just as easily argue we got worse under Doc. yes SOS was a factor but we started out red hot despite no training camp and having AG. yet even with Dame and Giannis getting familiar we got worse.

Like what has doc done as a coach makes you think he elevated talent? he's no bud.

[MartyConlonOnTheRun]

I feel like our coaching staff is the best its been in my lifetime, been watching since 2000-2001

even if you are just Bud > Doc (I'm Bud>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>Doc)

...Give me Jenkins, Ham, Lee over what we currently have

[emunney]

<--- Big Rhinelander fan here

Grew up there, Northwoods are the best.

My dad grew up there; I went to some Jack Bennett camps when he was Rhinelander's HC and Dick was still at Wisconsin. Met Sam Okey!

[James1980]

55-27
Lose in ECF

[Packbuckman]

we won 49 games last year with Dame, Giannis, and Brolo having pretty damn good health. midds only played 55 but do you expect him to play much more? all are a year older.

it's really not that crazy.

The only reason we won 49 games is the coaching change and Doc going one game under .500 in the last 30 something games that’s not going to happen again. This team is a lot better and a training camp under Doc this team should be up there for best record easily.

as a dame and Giannis fan, I think this is the case. but you could just as easily argue we got worse under Doc. yes SOS was a factor but we started out red hot despite no training camp and having AG. yet even with Dame and Giannis getting familiar we got worse.

Like what has doc done as a coach makes you think he elevated talent? he's no bud.

Well for one no Beasley in starting lineup guarding the best guards. Once he stopped being one of the best 3 pt shooters he was a big negative in lineup.
Seeing him play AJJ minutes this preseason he’s going to play the players that are going to contribute and if you can’t your ass will be on bench. I really like this whole coaching staff better even the rondo coaching gig I like. Ham coming back is big too. So he don’t have to be Bud but let his staff do their jobs.

[Brewhoopfan]

It's all about HEALTH when the playoffs arrive. Nothing else matters. A healthy Bucks team will win it all. My prediction: Unprecedented load management and just barely sneaks into the playoffs (6-7 seed). The problem? Karma. Still not healthy and a 1st round exit.

[MKE_Hodag22]

<--- Big Rhinelander fan here

Grew up there, Northwoods are the best.

My dad grew up there; I went to some Jack Bennett camps when he was Rhinelander's HC and Dick was still at Wisconsin. Met Sam Okey!

Love it! My aunt live across street from hodag country fest. Im heading up here in about a hour to go bow hunting for the weekend.

[FrieAaron]

55 wins feels about right and finally a deep playoff run again as our top 3 are healthy for the first time in 3 seasons.