Official Bucks Prediction Thread - LOCKING AT NOON 10/18

[MartyConlonOnTheRun]

Need to avoid 4-5 seed and we have a legit shot ECF. Could see us anywhere from 40-53 wins. Wish we had Jabari where 55ish and 2 seed wouldn't be crazy talk

[CountMe3Outs]

Expect continued attribution of poor team play to the perpetual "we're a young team" mantra.
Continuity will be shown NOT be conducive to winning consistently.

Stale & predictable defensive scheme will continue to prematurely exhaust players, and facilitate rapid point escalations by opposing teams of varying calibers.

Giannis may end up being overtaxed trying to implement dysfunctional offensive schemes, however, 'friends in high places' will inhibit pertinent & effective corrective action.

[Bernman]

[skones]

Need to avoid 4-5 seed and we have a legit shot ECF. Could see us anywhere from 40-53 wins. Wish we had Jabari where 55ish and 2 seed wouldn't be crazy talk

I think you can take the Celtics out of the home court equation after the Hayward injury. Makes the 2-4 much more interesting.

[MartyConlonOnTheRun]

Need to avoid 4-5 seed and we have a legit shot ECF. Could see us anywhere from 40-53 wins. Wish we had Jabari where 55ish and 2 seed wouldn't be crazy talk

I think you can take the Celtics out of the home court equation after the Hayward injury. Makes the 2-4 much more interesting.

I wouldn't write them off yet. If Brown steps up, they have 3 above average starters. They could still get a 3/4 with if they play well and Raptors and Wizards fade. The Celtics are amazingly thin for all the draft pics they have accumulated. They will need Brown and Irving to play 40 every single night.

[skones]

Need to avoid 4-5 seed and we have a legit shot ECF. Could see us anywhere from 40-53 wins. Wish we had Jabari where 55ish and 2 seed wouldn't be crazy talk

I think you can take the Celtics out of the home court equation after the Hayward injury. Makes the 2-4 much more interesting.

I wouldn't write them off yet. If Brown steps up, they have 3 above average starters. They could still get a 3/4 with if they play well and Raptors and Wizards fade. The Celtics are amazingly thin for all the draft pics they have accumulated. They will need Brown and Irving to play 40 every single night.

First off, it should be stated that I'm in the camp of, "Kyrie Irving is one of the most overrated players in the league."

Even IF Brown takes a leap, you're hoping he becomes a replacement level player in year two, if not slightly above. I don't think that's an "above average starter at all." You have ZERO proven shooters on the roster outside of Morris and Irving. You're relying on Rozier/Smart/Baynes/Ojeleye off the bench. They'll remain weak on the glass and one of your answers to losing an NBA all-star is placing more responsibility on a 19 year old rookie. As good as he's been during his career, Horford is another year older and has had a history of difficulty staying on the floor. I just don't see it. I feel like there were a ton of problems with this roster that nobody noticed because they got Gordon Hayward.

Irving/Smart
Brown/Rozier
Tatum
Morris/ Ojeleye
Horford/Baynes

That looks like a suitable rotation to you?

[Prickle]

I want to be stoked about the Bucks this year, but for some reason I just can't. We're bringing back pretty much the exact same team as last year, and I really see no reason to believe that the results will be any better than last year. 5th seed is the ceiling, IMO. Hope I'm wrong...

[blazza18]

I want to be stoked about the Bucks this year, but for some reason I just can't. We're bringing back pretty much the exact same team as last year, and I really see no reason to believe that the results will be any better than last year. 5th seed is the ceiling, IMO. Hope I'm wrong...

We're young and when Middleton returned we won some games. How can you not be excited?

[Jez2983]

I want to be stoked about the Bucks this year, but for some reason I just can't. We're bringing back pretty much the exact same team as last year, and I really see no reason to believe that the results will be any better than last year. 5th seed is the ceiling, IMO. Hope I'm wrong...

We're young and when Middleton returned we won some games. How can you not be excited?

My main excitement is that the East got worse. After watching Richmond this year I'm excited that maybe an NBA team can sustain it for a whole playoffs

[Prickle]

I want to be stoked about the Bucks this year, but for some reason I just can't. We're bringing back pretty much the exact same team as last year, and I really see no reason to believe that the results will be any better than last year. 5th seed is the ceiling, IMO. Hope I'm wrong...

We're young and when Middleton returned we won some games. How can you not be excited?

I'm excited about the future of this team, but the future is not this season, unfortunately. Could the Bucks conceivably make a splash in the playoffs this year? Perhaps. But it's just as likely (if not more likely) that they finish with a 6-8 seed and not advance past the first round again. I love Giannis and Midds as much as the next guy, but this team will need to acquire some additional bonafide all-star talent when they are serious about trying to contend for a title. It's ok, we're not there yet, which is why I'm not getting my hopes up too high for this season. This young team will get another year under their belt, and hopefully by next season, we'll be that "one piece" away from contending, and I trust LED will make the necessary move to acquire it.

I love the Bucks, but Giannis is not carrying this team to the Finals......at least not yet.

[Garbs_7]

45-37
4th seed
2nd round exit

[MartyConlonOnTheRun]

I want to be stoked about the Bucks this year, but for some reason I just can't. We're bringing back pretty much the exact same team as last year, and I really see no reason to believe that the results will be any better than last year. 5th seed is the ceiling, IMO. Hope I'm wrong...

We're young and when Middleton returned we won some games. How can you not be excited?

lol, you need to use green font because I took it seriously for a second.

[pack15412]

48 wins. 2nd rd playoffs. Giannis 1st team NBA. John Henson gains another 15 pounds of burrito weight.

[hdroffffff]

46-36, 2nd round exit

[RainX]

48-34

[ReginaldDwight]

52-30 Lose in Finals.

[old skool]

47-35, 3rd seed

A lot hinges on Antetokounmpo continuing to improve. If he can stay healthy and continue to improve, he provides an incredible base for success night in and night out. His mercurial ascent to date makes it difficult to predict how good he will be this season and while NBA MVP consideration would be amazing, it is not out of the question. The man has no ceiling.

Middleton is a big upgrade at second banana. A full season from Khris should make a big difference.

Maker needs to become a solid contributor. His length complements the Bucks frustratingly unique defensive scheme and can help generate transition offense opportunities.

It will be very helpful if Parker can return with some semblance of his 2016 start. Not only does he provide a solid scoring option, but his addition could move lesser players down in the rotation where they can be more productive playing shorter minutes.

Any prediction for 2017-18 needs to begin with the realization that these four players have never had the chance to play together for an extended stretch of time. They tease us with potential. Any prediction as to their level of success this year requires as much imagination as evaluation.

The greatest unknown lies with Horst. Moves to shed salary and possibly add to the roster during the season can be transformative.

[AussieBuck]

Any of you now adding an extra win with Boston dying or did everyone have us sweeping them?

[chonestown]

44-38. First round exit.

Excited for the season, but Bucks and optimism are still an uneasy mix for area message board participant.

[ampd]

Head:46-36
Heart:52-30

That broken and abused part of me that has watched the bucks the last 20+ years: 39-43