Can The Bucks Get "IT" Back?

[Scalabrine]

2 Seasons ago the Bucks came out of nowhere with Jason Kidd as the coach. They were composed of a mix of veterans and young players and were 41-41. Definitely overachieved what most fans and analysts predicted.

This past year they had pretty high expectations going into it after there strong season and good playoff showing. They were the "IT team" They added Greg Monroe, who was the post scorer most thought was the perfect fit next to their long and young team, and Jabari Parker was coming back from his ACL injury. Many people predicted them to finish with home court advantage in the playoffs and I saw some people saying the Bucks would be the 2 seed, a 50+ win team, etc...

Then the wheels fell off. Parker wasn't fully healed, Monroe wasn't as perfect a fit as they thought, MCW still looked lost and couldn't find a role, Kidd had surgery and couldn't be on the sidelines, and a myriad of injuries and roster moves caused them to not even come close to expectations, finishing the year with just 33 wins. The silver lining on the season of disappointments was that Giannis really found his niche in the league as a point forward and lead ball handler off the break.

Here we are:
They added Teletovic, Dellavedova, Maker, and Brogdon while losing Bayless, Mayo, and Copeland

Monroe/Henson/Plumee
Parker/Teletovic/Maker
Antetokounmpo/Brogdon
Middleton/Vaughn
Dellavedova/MCW/Ennis

They have a ton of versatility but really lack depth and vet leadership right now. Parker came on near the end of the season and really started to show his potential. I love the Delly pick up, he can slide into the Bayless role but be a better defensive player while letting MCW run the show on the second unit.

Where do you expect these guys to finish this year? They still have 3 roster spots and the 2.8 mil room exception, what should they do with them? Can this one time dark horse pick, become a playoff team again with some health and development on their side?

[KobeBryant24]

I thought you were talking about Isaiah Thomas at first lol

[ChuckyFE]

I never really felt they had "it" to begin with. That one season, if memory serves correctly, was the weakest I had ever seen the eastern conference in terms of competition but now that the east is growing stronger, they can no longer take advantage of that.

They can compete to scrape into the playoffs but I don't see them doing anything special.

[pr0wler]

Weird title. Also thought thread was about Isaiah Thomas.

[Little Digger]

I only watched a few Bucks games last season but I came away with the impression that they have absolutely no chance to compete with their core being such piss poor shooters..Especially from 3..

Back when the illegal defense rules allowed teams to put up to 3 sh*tty shooters on the floor at one time, maybe these current Bucks could win some games..But today's games absolutely requires teams to spread the floor with shooters..

[Scalabrine]

I never really felt they had "it" to begin with. That one season, if memory serves correctly, was the weakest I had ever seen the eastern conference in terms of competition but now that the east is growing stronger, they can no longer take advantage of that.

They can compete to scrape into the playoffs but I don't see them doing anything special.

Giannis - 22
Parker - 21
Middleton - 24
Monroe - 25
MCW - 25
Henson - 26
Maker - 19?
Delly - 25

That is an insanely young and talented core that has plenty of potential to grow into their roles.

[ChuckyFE]

I never really felt they had "it" to begin with. That one season, if memory serves correctly, was the weakest I had ever seen the eastern conference in terms of competition but now that the east is growing stronger, they can no longer take advantage of that.

They can compete to scrape into the playoffs but I don't see them doing anything special.

Giannis - 22
Parker - 21
Middleton - 24
Monroe - 25
MCW - 25
Henson - 26
Maker - 19?
Delly - 25

That is an insanely young and talented core that has plenty of potential to grow into their roles.

Yeah, I thought that too but at the same time, other teams are countering by also developing their young cores or have gotten better through trades and free agency so in my mind, they won't gain too much ground.

[Jaballa Parkay]

Still need to trade Monroe and improve the bench. As of now, my answer is no, even with improvements from Giannis and Jabari. I think they're 9 seed.

[kvash37]

Can anyone speak on why Jabari barely takes any 3's? He seems like a better shooter than someone who took 35 all of last year.

[BloodNinja]

They have decent talent but the fit isn't there. I don't like either Monroe or MCW on this roster.

[kamaze]

Bayless did a good job for them I think they'll miss him; I think Vasquez was injured; say what you want but that's good veteran presence in the locker room that's why the team fell off last year after losing Zaza, Jared Dudley and Caron Butler.
Teletovic is a good 3 point shooter in Brooklyn Kidd played him at small forward if the plan is to play him as a stretch 4 the defense suffers. They've got a good coach he'll figure it out.

[YogurtProducer]

I said from the beginning they were overrated. They got rid of good defenders and brought in poor ones. They have length but no shooters and no real defense stoppers. Monroe needs to be traded asap

[Prez]

Can anyone speak on why Jabari barely takes any 3's? He seems like a better shooter than someone who took 35 all of last year.

He was literally instructed by Kidd not to shoot 3s, much like Giannis was in his 2nd year. Something about developing their inside games. He said he's done with that and will let them loose next year.

I think people are going to be surprised at good a shooter Jabari ends up being. Not only was he a 20 year old coming off an ACL injury but he was told by his coach not to shoot from range. But he has great form and touch on his shot and shooting was never really a problem in high school or college for him, he'll be good going forward.

[thierry]

Imagine if they still had Knight instead of MCW.. One of the worst moves in recent NBA IMO. Knight is a perfect fit for the Middleton / Freak / Parker core while MCW is a nightmare fit.

[Wargreymon]

I don't think the Celtics are willing to trade him and if they do it would probably be in a package for a superstar like Westbrook or Cousins.

[Scalabrine]

Imagine if they still had Knight instead of MCW.. One of the worst moves in recent NBA IMO. Knight is a perfect fit for the Middleton / Freak / Parker core while MCW is a nightmare fit.

Or if they had just take the lakers pick instead. Definitely a head scratcher the second it was announced.


Sent from my iPhone using RealGM Forums

[lars_rosenberg]

Sure they can.
Losing Zaza and adding Monroe was a problem because it destroyed their defense. Two years ago they were the second best defense in the league and despite a bad offense they managed to be very competitive.
Parker replacing Ilyasova also meant less spacing, especially when the PG was MCW who can't shoot.

Dellavedova is a good shooter and with Giannis running the point he'd basically be a 3 and D guard, which is his perfect role, so I think he'll be a very good fit next to Middleton and Antetokounmpo.
Monroe's offense is valuable, but he should come off the bench and lead the second unit. The starting five works better with Plumlee or Henson.
They need at least another decent shooter in the starting 5 and I don't think it's going to be Giannis, so Jabari has to start shooting.
If that happens they will make the playoff and I see them getting better every year.
Giannis is special, but his broken jumper means his teammates need to be handpicked to fit until he gets better (he will, his mechanic is not bad).

[GimmeDat]

They have to do something about Monroe and the C position, otherwise I like they're roster.

They've been able to work out Giannis as a PG now, and Dellevadova was a great signing to compliment that. Another year of development from Parker, as well as Vaughn hopefully assuming that backup SG spot, and their spacing and scoring should look a whole lot better.

But I look at that roster and think the #1 thing is they need to be an elite defensive team. It's very possible, they're perimeter defense on paper is top-tier, but their front-line is letting them down. A Monroe trade should help a bunch. Other than that, they've upgraded the shooting/scoring a bunch. They're talent level is well above how they went last year.

What should they do from here? Ideally, add another backup wing, because both Vaughn and Brogdon are question marks.

Also, I dare say Brandon Knight might be worth trading back for. You never see teams admit to their mistake like that, but as has been mentioned, he's a great fit. Knight's not commanding much value these days, why not.

Another idea - Nerlens Noel. I know he's not coming too cheaply, but he ticks a lot of boxes. Young, floor runner, rim protector, lop target, good rebounder, etc.

[kvash37]

Can anyone speak on why Jabari barely takes any 3's? He seems like a better shooter than someone who took 35 all of last year.

He was literally instructed by Kidd not to shoot 3s, much like Giannis was in his 2nd year. Something about developing their inside games. He said he's done with that and will let them loose next year.

I think people are going to be surprised at good a shooter Jabari ends up being. Not only was he a 20 year old coming off an ACL injury but he was told by his coach not to shoot from range. But he has great form and touch on his shot and shooting was never really a problem in high school or college for him, he'll be good going forward.

That's pretty obnoxious. What's the point of having a stretch 4 that doesn't stretch the floor?

I know Jabari is a good shooter, he may not be elite from range but it's not outrageous to think he could hit them at a 35% clip. Opens things up for everyone else too.

Bucks have a ton of length. I can't wait to see Giannis-Maker-Henson on the floor at the same time.

[Prez]

Brandon Knight isn't a great fit. People need to understand that being a great fit goes beyond just your skill set. His approach to the game mentally and style wise just didn't and won't ever fit with what we need next to the core trio going forward.