Post-Mortem: 2022-23 Milwaukee Bucks

[ElectricMayhem]

Wait, the Head won that? I was at work and the game seemed to be practically over. I forgot to check back.

Here is the data from previous years' Post-Mortems:
2020-21:

Spoiler:

Post-Mortem Results I: GM Confidence Meter
Post-Mortem Results II: Coaching Confidence Meter
Post-Mortem Results III: Performance Compared to Expectations
Post-Mortem Results IV: Rising/Treadmill/Waning

2021-22:
2021-22 Post Mortem Final Summary

Team Name: Milwaukee Bucks
Record at Time of Death: 58-24 (.707 (1st Round Loss)
Head of Front Office: John Horst (2017-)
Coach: Mike Budenholzer (2018-)

Offensive Rating: 15th
Defensive Rating: 4th
Rebound %: 3rd
Turnover %: 19th

Front Office: Change or keep?
Coach: Change or keep?
Relative to expectations, how did they fare this year?
Rising, falling, or treadmill?
If you were in charge, what would you do this offseason?

Notes:
Players under contract next year:
Giannis Antetokounmpo ($46m)
Jrue Holiday ($36m)
Bobby Portis ($12m)
Pat Connaughton ($9m)
Grayson Allen ($9m)
MarJon Beauchamp ($3m)
Jevon Carter ($2m) (Partially Guaranteed)

Team Options:

Player Options:
Khris Middleton ($40m)

Free Agents:
Brook Lopez
Jae Crowder
Joe Ingles
Thanasis Antetokounmpo
Wesley Matthews
Goran Dragic
Meyers Leonard
Lindell Wigginton
A.J. Green

Dead Money:

Previous Post-Mortems:
30. Houston Rockets
29. San Antonio Spurs
28. Detroit Pistons
27. Charlotte Hornets
26. Portland Trail Blazers
25. Indiana Pacers
24. Washington Wizards
23. Orlando Magic
22. Utah Jazz
21. Dallas Mavericks
20. Toronto Raptors
19. New Orleans Pelicans
18. Chicago Bulls
17. Oklahoma City Thunder
16. Brooklyn Nets
15. Minnesota Timberwolves
14. Los Angeles Clippers
13. Cleveland Cavaliers
12. Milwaukee Bucks

[RoyceDa59]

Wow.

Changes are needed clearly in Bucks land. Maybe it’s time for Bud to go.

I blame the coach for this one.

Nurse incoming?

[BadWolf]

Not much you can do when you pay your top 3 guys 120 M. Other then fire the coach. It's time.

[Lockdown504090]

Bud gotta go, can’t lose off the same strategy 3-4 years. Miami not even a good team

[LFAHFN22]

They don't have much in terms of elasticity. I believe their draft capital is locked up, and they have minimal financial flexibility. Jrue had a horrible series, but I don't see any plausible upgrades. Middleton has also received significant criticism, but he gave you 24 points, 6 rebounds, and 6 assists on .600 TS%. He fulfilled his responsibilities as a second option.

Personally, I start with Budenholzer. It's hard to decipher their gameplan, and they clearly lacked execution, but it's the complete absence of adjustments (year after year) that is most noteworthy.

[Saints14]

Fire Bud, keep the core and pray the old guys have one more season left in the tank. Good news is they have a long offseason to recover

[ReddoverKobe]

GM and coach have to go. Everyone but Giannis can leave as well. Someone else said it but this was a team of 82 game guys, not 16. Too old and slow and that Miami series was a wake up call. Dont be the 2014 packers and run it back after an all time collapse.

[Onus]

They need to get a closer now that Middleton is a shell of himself. Without Middleton being able to close they're not a real contender.

[whitehops]

if middleton picks up his player option i'd re-sign lopez and run it back. they have so much talent/experience it'd be silly to overreact to losing a series where giannis was out most of the games. they had the best record in the league and middleton is the only player of their core that isn't guaranteed to return with his player option and i have a hard time seeing him turn down $40M.

it was a crappy way to end this season but i think they should absolutely try to compete again next season with the same core.

[timO]

They need a change, coach out, and some trades.

[Jadoogar]

Bud is done
Maybe front office too, they gave up 5 seconds for Jae Crowder who didn't play at all.

[KokoKaizer]

I agree with you guys.

Bud needs to go.

Other than that it will be difficult for the Bucks to improve their roster.

No assets, no real trade value.

[Hugi Mancura]

Budenholzer needs to go. Team have been playing same style 5-6 years now and everyone knows how to beat Bud's system and he is incapable to do any changes. He rather see this team burn 10 times using his system than to do any changes. I do think if they change to coach to someone else who somewhat knows how basketball is played they will do better. Biggest team in NBA and only way they can score is by shooting 3's.

No need to add or remove players. This roster can win championship if they just a capable coach.

[Statlanta]

Kenny Smith made a great point in that contenders need to adjust while non-contenders need to change in order to win a championship. I don't think the series result screams contender. Even with the injuries.

Even if Bud is sacked I don't think this team is saved with Middleton declining. They need a better supporting cast if this is prime Giannis(especially with this injury history)

[oldncreaky]

My sympathies to Milwaukee fans. Glaringly obvious mistakes in execution/tactics/strategy cost them the last 2 very winnable games -- too many mistakes to count. Unused time outs. Leaving Brook on Bam, while Giannis cools his jets against Love or whoever. Not guarding the rim at the end of reg. Chucking up outside shots most of the 4th when the Heat can't guard them inside.

Bud gotta go.

Talent-wise, I think they have enough to run it back and have a legit shot next year, and maybe the year after. Main off-season focus should be on resigning Brook and finding someone to guard perimeter stars other than relying on the over-taxed Holiday.

[kenwood3333]

Keep everyone and add a clutch player or staff. Someone who can take over in a close game, either on the court or off the court. That killer instinct is missing from this Buck's team. There is no need to overreact to one bad series, when this team has done so well.

[Johnny Tomala]

Keep, fire, worse, waning.

[NoDopeOnSundays]

Bud used a challenge in the first quarter and lost.

Fire that man immediately

[-Luke-]

https://basketball.realgm.com/wiretap/271365/League-Insiders-Extremely-Skeptical-Bucks-Will-Keep-Mike-Budenholzer-As-Head-Coach

[UcanUwill]

''There is no failure in sports''

ThErE iS No FaiLuRe iN SpOrTs