Milwaukee Bucks 2011/2012

[RockCoCougars]

The way I've heard this draft described, outside of Davis, is that it's really, really deep, but very volatile.

 

You could get a super star with the 3rd pick, or the 15th pick, but no one really knows.

 

That's how it seems to me. I saw a mock with the Bucks taking Doc Rivers' kid with the 10 pick. Though I think that he should have stayed in school, and he wasn't too impressive his Freshman season, this may be the type of guy that the Bucks should target. Looking at the same mock, I'm not really bowled away with any of the other Top 10 picks except for Davis.

[paul253]

This draft is definitely deeper than most. Look at the guys the Bucks have picked in the past few years. Larry Sanders at 15. Joel Alexander at 8. Yi at 6. I think this is the best draft since 2003. Not close to the talent level at the top of the draft (Lebron, Carmelo, Wade) but maybe even a little deeper than 2003.

 

On another note, I saw a Forbes list of NBA team values and the Bucks were valued dead last. The Bucks situation seems awfully similar to the Brewers situation from awhile ago. A sputtering franchise in desperate need of new life. I don't particularly care about the Bucks all that much, but I don't want to see them leave town. Without a new arena, it's only a matter of time. The Bucks would be a great investment for someone who can afford it. Kohl is getting up there in age and I imagine is going to look at selling the team soon. If a new owner can buy the team for say, $300 million then invest another $100 million in a new downtown arena while getting the city to kick in some money, the value of the team could increase significantly. They also need to hire a competent GM who realize that consistently falling somewhere between 7 and 11 doesn't cut it.

[homer]

Kohl is getting up there in age and I imagine is going to look at selling the team soon. If a new owner can buy the team for say, $300 million then invest another $100 million in a new downtown arena while getting the city to kick in some money, the value of the team could increase significantly. They also need to hire a competent GM who realize that consistently falling somewhere between 7 and 11 doesn't cut it.

 

As crappy an owner as Herb has been I really think he's committed to keeping the Bucks in Milwaukee and won't sell unless a new owner signs some agreement to keep the team in the city.

[LouisEly]

"the more I wish the Bucks would have used Bogut and/or Jennings to try to acquire an additional lottery pick"

 

They did use Bogut to get a lottery pick - Udoh was the #6 overall pick in 2010. While he's not going to be a superstar, from what I've seen he looks pretty athletic and over the last 10 games has averaged 5.3 rebounds, 1.6 blocks, and 1.4 assists in only 19.9 minutes/game. Stretch that to 35 minutes per game and he'd average almost 10 rebounds and 3 blocks a game, which is what he did in 31 minutes vs Atlanta on Tuesday. No, he'll never average 20 points per game, but he's a pretty good defensive PF/C.

 

Trading for a lottery pick is easier said than done - it takes two to tango. If the draft is deep and talented, chances are teams with lottery picks aren't going to be very willing to give them up.

[Oldcity]

The Nets just traded their pick for Gerald Wallace. It seems like there are many more stupid GMs in the NBA than other sports.

[RockCoCougars]

I just read part of the recent interview that Bogut did for SI (overview in the article on the JS), and I've got to say that I'm glad they dumped this guy. Perpetually injured, it seems as though he's using them as an excuse for all of his issues. He really lost me this season, when he took off for a week (in between injuries) for an unexplained absence right after the season started. Maybe he should go to work rehabbing his latest injury as opposed to spouting off to the press. Good riddance.

[TooLiveBrew]

I'd guess an unexplained absence would be most likely a family/personal issue, so that would probably not be a good thing to pass judgment on.

[RockCoCougars]

I'd guess an unexplained absence would be most likely a family/personal issue, so that would probably not be a good thing to pass judgment on.

 

Obviously, but why the secrecy? In the case of a family illness, that's all that they would have had to say- this happens all the time with players missing games. Because of this, I'm more inclined to believe the 'personal issues' angle- if that's the case, couldn't he have squared these away during the lockout? At any rate, the organization supported him during whatever it was, and then he has the gall to trash them a few months later?

 

To me, this comes off very similar to the Gary Sheffield stuff. I've partaken in a good deal of Sheffield trashing over the years, but I've softened a bit on him after almost 20 years. I'm almost more willing to give him a pass in this case due to the fact that he was a twenty year old kid from a rougher background, and he wasn't making eight figures.

 

Bottom line, Bogut didn't get the job done here. Yes, injuries ruined things for the most part, but he shouldn't be blaming the Bucks for that. Spouting about the fact that the Bucks didn't provide him with a good enough backup or make excuses for his play? Come on, you were the number one overall pick. He should have kept his thoughts to himself.

[TooLiveBrew]

Obviously, but why the secrecy?

Because his employer respects his right to privacy

[Baldkin]

I think it's refreshing for an athlete to be honest and open. I don't consider this trashing the organization (and really, I can't blame him for saying what he said). He said he knows it's a business, and as employees of the team, it was their job to get him on the court.

 

It was obvious to anyone who watched him last year that he wasn't right, yet the team made him play the full season with one arm, in order to try to make the 8th seed in the playoffs (again...). Then he comes back this year, barely done with rehab from the surgery he knew he'd need 1/3rd of the way through the season before -- because the team rushed him back to make him play.

 

Comparing that to a guy who both trashed the city of Milwaukee and admitted to deliberately tanking in games to get himself traded.... well... to each their own, I guess.

[RockCoCougars]

Obviously, but why the secrecy?

Because his employer respects his right to privacy

 

Too bad that he didn't reciprocate that respect. As I said, good riddance.

[TooLiveBrew]

Obviously, but why the secrecy?

Because his employer respects his right to privacy

 

Too bad that he didn't reciprocate that respect. As I said, good riddance.

How did he not reciprocate? I didn't read the interview.

[RockCoCougars]

Comparing that to a guy who both trashed the city of Milwaukee and admitted to deliberately tanking in games to get himself traded.... well... to each their own, I guess.

 

First, I want to say that I never thought that I'd be defending Gary Sheffield on this board. Second, I think the comparison is very valid, except for the fact that Sheffield was far more talented then Bogut. Regarding injuries, the Brewers medical staff misdiagnosed a broken foot back in Sheffield's rookie season, and let him play on it for weeks. Then they gave SS to Spiers. Regarding the tanking games thing, the 'throwing the balls in the stands' was later denied by Sheffield, and it's not backed up by the game logs. I don't remember Sheffield saying anything bad about Milwaukee, and even if he did, Bogut has been taking roundabout potshots at the city since the trade himself.

 

The bottom line is that both players trashed their organizations after they were traded to the West coast, Bogut just did so in a much more diplomatic way. After missing game upon game and taking million upon million from the Bucks franchise, he should have just kept his mouth closed. I'm glad that he's happy with the Warriors. Maybe if he can ever play a full season without an owie, he will come close to justifying his draft pick status, but I doubt that will happen. I'm glad that he's their headache now.

[RockCoCougars]

How did he not reciprocate? I didn't read the interview.

 

http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2012/writers/sam_amick/03/28/bogut.warriors/index.html

[Outlander]

It's looking like next Wednesday's game against the Knicks will determine who makes the playoffs. The Bucks may be catching them at a good time too with the injuries the Knicks have combined with their tough schedule this next week.

[LouisEly]

Given how weak the Bucks schedule is/was the last 1.5 months of the season, I don't even think it would have been possible for them to lose enough to get a significantly higher draft pick (without winning the lottery). That being said, there are five teams with between 19 and 21 wins so one or two games among that group could have a significant impact on their draft spot.

 

It's interesting to look at Indiana though: 33-21 and the #3 seed. But none of their key players were top 10 draft picks - Granger (#17), Hibbert (#17), George (ok, he was #10), West (#18), Collison (#21), Hansbrough (#13), Barbosa (#28). Solid college players taken in the middle of the first round.

[tigerbrew]

Yesterday's game was fun to watch, really hope the Bucks make the playoffs. I will definitely be watching their final 10 games of the seaon. GO BUCKS !!

[CheezWizHed]

Bucks are 1 game behind the Knicks. They play at the Bradley Center and the Knicks just lost to the Bulls last night. So the Bucks are fresh and the Knicks are on their second game in a row.

 

If the Bucks can't win this one, they don't deserve to be in the playoffs.

[brwrsfan]

If the Bucks win this one, it gives them the tie breaker over the Knicks, puts them in a tie with 9 games to go. Losing would be pretty tough to swallow. Don't rule out the Sixers falling too though. They have been playing very badly.

[RockCoCougars]

Scheduling is huge in the NBA, and the Bucks have a big advantage there. With a back to back on the road, the Knicks are playing their 3rd in 4 days tonight. Considering that the first two were against the Bulls, who play a physical style, and I've got to guess that they should be dragging against a well-rested Bucks team. The Bucks should win this one, but I never assume anything with this squad.

[homer]

Well that was a pathetic defensive display in the first quarter. Knicks looked like they were running layup drills.

[LouisEly]

And a pathetic officiating display in the fourth quarter. Picked some awful convenient times to swallow their whistles...

[Invader3K]

Kind of goes in the "well, duh" category, but Herb Kohl did an interview yesterday on WTMJ and said flat out that the team is going to need a new arena.

[trwi7]

He can say they need a new arena but that's all he ever does about it. Just says that they need one at some point. Absolutely no leadership on the issue. And a new arena isn't going to mean a damn thing if less than 10,000 people keep entering the arena during games.

[CheezWizHed]

Perhaps when he is no longer a senator, he will push harder for a new arena. I always got the impression he was afraid to upset his constituents...