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I felt like this warranted a separate thread. I think many people including myself thought we wouldn't be quite as good as we were last year.

We're currently 20-3 riding a 14 game win streak including last night's blowout over arguably the favorite to win the title this year. Last year after 23 games, we were 16-7. Obviously losing Brogdon was big, but we seem to have some other guys like Donte who are really stepping up to replace him. Giannis has also somehow taken another step. It just seems like our guys are more comfortable playing together with another season under their belt which has allowed some of the new guys like Wes to fit in a bit faster than normal. Also another season with Bud seems to really be helping.

So as of now, do you think we are better than we were last year? A few games ago I would've said no, but now I feel it's pretty clear we are.

Can’t tell yet. We’re not worse.


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I thought the team would take a little step back into that mid to high 50 win range. Load management, no Mason Bronson, Ersan getting DNP-Old's, and teams getting up for the Bucks. I didn't think Giannis was at his peak, but I did think we'd see a little more of the same from him.

But holy hell, Giannis took another leap. Donte's turned into a guy I'm already wondering how they're gonna afford. Wes isn't **** offensively but he's been valuable as hell on defense. Same with Brook. Mids looks more comfortable on offense and Bledsoe is doing Bledsoe ****.

I don't think there's any question they're better. They're load managing by blowing the doors off everyone for three quarters. It's hilarious.

Are we a better regular season team? Yes? We lost Brogdon, but we are deeper.

Are we a better playoff team? Not sure, we lost Brogdon, and still lack the superstar 1/superstar 1a that is the preferred model for playoff success.

I think continuity and chemistry are the biggest reasons why we're better. It looks like for the most part everyone knows where they are supposed to be, how they fit in and what they can do to help and they bought in to Bud.

Yes.

Giannis' improvement alone made us better.

I don't think Brogdon would have made us worse than we are now.

That said, Donte, Matthews, Pat and Brown appear to be cumulatively bringing us a different kind of energy and defensive intensity that is also having an impact.

If the Middleton we got back after the injury is the same Middleton we get all year, we are much better. Wes' defense, DDV's playing time, and the extension of George Hill are all paying large dividends. Giannis has improved. Brook has played well below his averages, and a regression to the mean would be another huge development for us. Our bench bigs, and ability to match up with multiple types of teams are also places that we have improved.

I think the biggest improvement is in players 6 through 10. Last year in game 6 against the raptors we played an 8 man rotation. Our starters played between 30 and 41 minutes. George Hill, Ersan, and Pat were the only players coming off of the bench. Mirotic had no value. Going from that to those same players plus DDV, Korver, DJ, and Robin all giving us different looks against teams that attack us in different ways means improvement.

Yes, but individual player values is not the main reason.
I believe that having one more year of soaking in the Bud culture is crucial.
Also, experiencing ECF loss may have improved both our players' and coach's IQ. If that improvement is enough to win a chip this year, it is to be determined...

I think the defense is much better and the stats bear that out.

I’ll answer this in June, not December (shrug)

Last year we were a machine; this year we're a machine gun.

You have to be more precise. We started into the season with Delly and H3nson. Shortly after the George Hill trade we looked very strong. I don't think we have eclipsed that peak just yet. But Giannis looks vastly improved and Donte/Wes add toughness. I don't think we're missing Brogdon with the starters but we may miss him playing with the bench. And our roster still is short on point guards.

Chemistry is certainly better ever since we dumped Wheely McBad Feets.

Yes we are. Multiple looming contract situations out of the way. Everyone from Giannis to DJ has bought into and understands their role in year 2 of Bud’s system. Donte blossoming.

Seem to be but I don't think we can know for sure until May/June.

DanoMac wrote:Yes we are. Multiple looming contract situations out of the way.

Good point.

We have very few players at risk of fighting for extra shots or minutes for contractual reasons.

Big contrast to last year when just about everyone was in a contract year with big money on the line.

They may be. Giannis is even better, tougher to gameplan against w/ a halfway threatening j so far, and DiVo is an x-factor who is available, as of now.

But that's the test..if they can handle significant attrition (to players other than Giannis) which typically come over the course of a long season, at which point they may need to rely on more of those old players which gave them problems early when they did it by choice.

And the playoffs are largely a different animal. Obviously that's when the questions arise when it comes to Bledsoe, regardless of revisionist history. If he goes in the tank again, hopefully DiVo and Hil are there to make him a spot minute guy. To be better in the playoffs I think it would also help if the Bucks picked up another 3+D big wing to match up and save the legs of Giannis + Middleton. Maybe Sterling is that guy, but that's not entirely proven, and they should double up. Do that, dump Korver, and I'd feel confident in thinking the Bucks are favorites to win it all.

Yes.

Giannis is miraculously EVEN BETTER. Most notably decision making on when to attack and obviously improved long ball.

DDV has the second highest upside on this team. High IQ + motor + athleticism = YES please

Brogdon is a good player but the sum of DDV+Wes+Korver better.

We have another year for the guys in Buds defensive system and the new guys are meshing well. We have a plethora of wing guys that actively chase shooters and willingly make the right rotations all the time. That combined with having an elite pg defender, elite rim protector and an elite free safety/Greek God...The defense is even better and is our best asset.

I was half kidding when I joked about Brogdon holding us back but those close outs by Patty C and DDV are really something. The athleticism gained with those two replacing some of Brogdon's floor time is somewhat essential given the Bucks' pick your poison defensive philosophy of taking away the paint + corners and conceding wing threes.

And the defense of Matthews hasn't made me miss Brogdon either.

All that said, it all boils down to George Hill anyway. Their record since he made his Bucks debut is ridiculous. (63-17 regular season and 73-22 including playoffs)

It seems like offensively especially 3pt shooting we are worse but Gianiss compensates for our deficiency and is somehow even better than last year.

Defensively we have been better except 3pt shooting D as teams have learnt our plan and are attempting to out shoot us on 3. This has allowed games to be closer than what they should have been.

Lastly, as the season progresses it feels like we are incorporating the new and young guys better. Our team is becoming more in synch and we are learning how to adjust to different scenarios, and playing Bud/Gianiss ball more efficiently.