Milwaukee Bucks Thread 2009–2010 (part 2)

[TooLiveBrew]

Ridnour apparently had a 4/12 offer from the Lakers that he was willing to accept, but they took Blake instead.

Couldn't the Bucks just sign Mike Kelley?

[fondybrewfan]

Personally I think a starting lineup of Jennings, Salmons, Maggette, Gooden, and Bogut is a really good lineup, probaly the best starting 5 we have had since 2001. Plus we will have some really good depth all of a sudden; at least at the F & C positions. That lineup can probably get a 3-5 seed in any given year but I have to believe that it is going to be hard to be a championship contender. There are just too many good teams and superstars in the East. If Jennings develops into a Superstar maybe we can contend. I guess I shouldn't ask for too much, I would settle for a 1st round series win for starters.

[strawbossisevil]

Well, it's going to be tough for the Bucks to ever get to the point of being preseason favorites. We just don't have the marketability to bring in any big name superstar that other organizations do. The only way we can get a player like that is in the draft. And every season that the Bucks have had a top draft pick the players available have been less than superstar quality. No offense to Andrew Bogut or Glenn Robinson, but neither was ever going to be a superstar that could carry our team to a Finals.

 

Our best bet is to fill our team with as many players a step below the superstar level as possible and just hope that our "team" can outperform the individual talent of other organizations. That's what we tried to do with Robinson, Allen, and Cassell and it almost got us into a finals.

 

Here's hoping that having 5 above average starters, and an above average bench produces similar results for us this upcoming season.

[Diskono]

If you look at all of the teams that do have a "superstar", how many of them could keep up with us if you take that player away? Even the Lakers - how many players do they have (minus Kobe) that would start for the Bucks? Gasol, maybe Lamar Odom? Most of these teams have a superstar and a pile of below-average players. A team made entirely of average-to-good players can definitely make up the difference IMO.

[tigerbrew]

The 2004 Detroit Pistons didn't really have any superstars yet they beat a Lakers team loaded with superstars quite easily for the championship. It is possible to win the championship without a superstar. I think Hammond is recreating that Pistons championship formula in Milwaukee.

[Gobias Industries]

Detroit was basically the lone team to do that though. It's probably not a great blueprint for a championship, but at this point, the Bucks just need to have a few above avg seasons to get fan interest back. Then we can start talking about a new arena.

 

We gotta hope Jennings blows up, and Bogut comes back to the level he played at this last year. He was a top 20 player in the league last year.

[Baldkin]

He was a top 20 player in the league last year.

Shhhh... don't say these things. It's a huge secret. No one can actually know Bogut was really, really, really good last year! If word get's out... Milwaukee might actually get some publicity!

[homer]

Detroit was basically the lone team to do that though. It's probably not a great blueprint for a championship,

 

But unless you get lucky in the lottery or can buy a free agent it's the only way to win one without a bona fide stud on your team.

[nate82]

Richard Hamilton was a superstar for the Pistons along with Billups that year though. They weren't elite players but they weren't average and they were definitely just above being above average players.

[wallus]

Richard Hamilton was a superstar for the Pistons along with Billups that year though. They weren't elite players but they weren't average and they were definitely just above being above average players.

Neither of those guys were ever superstars.

[RockCoCougars]

I think that Jennings can definitely become a superstar if he improves his shooting. Have to keep in mind that he was only 20 years old next season. As long as he doesn't get battered around too much due to his slight size, the sky is the limit if he can hit the open J consistently.

[davego]

When I heard that Blake was going to get $4million a year for the next 4 seasons...I figured it was April 1 not the July 4th holiday. Good for him, I guess.

 

I like what Hammonds has done, but this is the team that we are sort of married too now for the next couple of seasons. Hope to heck he is right!

[Baldkin]

I think that Jennings can definitely become a superstar if he improves his shooting. Have to keep in mind that he was only 20 years old next season. As long as he doesn't get battered around too much due to his slight size, the sky is the limit if he can hit the open J consistently.

Sadly, it wasn't his jumper that was the problem last year. It was his finishing at the rim. He was absolutely horrible... hopefully with time (and a little more muscle) he'll be able to learn to take the bumps, and make the floaters and layups more often.

 

League average for point guards is 56% at the rim, Jennings was down under 43%. He was also pretty bad at anything under 15 feet compared to league average (according to hoopdata.com)

[danzig6767]

Detroit was basically the lone team to do that though. It's probably not a great blueprint for a championship, but at this point, the Bucks just need to have a few above avg seasons to get fan interest back. Then we can start talking about a new arena.

 

We gotta hope Jennings blows up, and Bogut comes back to the level he played at this last year. He was a top 20 player in the league last year.

Yea i don't really have any hopes that this roster can legitimately compete to get in the NBA Finals much less win a title, but i do hope they can be a 50 or more win team this coming year and the following year. Winning a playoff round or two would be great also.

 

I'm not a fan of 5 years to either Gooden or Salmons, but i won't throw a fit over it either. I'm simply going to try and enjoy a hopefully fun Bucks season where it's the best team we've had in awhile instead of spending to much time worry about what will happen say 4 years from now as Salmons/Gooden could be in the ugly years of those contracts.

 

After so many years of watching terrible Bucks teams and going into seasons with very low expectations, it is refreshing to be really excited for a Bucks season to start.

[homer]

The Bucks won 29 games the second half of last year. That was no fluke. They were good. There's more talent and depth on this roster than last year. My big question is if the new guys can buy into the team concept that worked so well. Will Maggette be willing to pass up shots and rotate the ball? Will Gooden rotate on defense? Will Salmons mind if he oly averages 15 a game? The Bucks won last season because everyone bought into their roles. I hope they can achieve that again because it was very fun to watch an NBA team actually play like a team for once.

[miggs721]

I know it's early to predict records, but I am predicting a 52-29 record and #3 spot in the east!!!

[wallus]

I know it's early to predict records, but I am predicting a 52-29 record and #3 spot in the east!!!

Is there a rainout mixed in there?

[RockCoCougars]

I think that Jennings can definitely become a superstar if he improves his shooting. Have to keep in mind that he was only 20 years old next season. As long as he doesn't get battered around too much due to his slight size, the sky is the limit if he can hit the open J consistently.

Sadly, it wasn't his jumper that was the problem last year. It was his finishing at the rim. He was absolutely horrible... hopefully with time (and a little more muscle) he'll be able to learn to take the bumps, and make the floaters and layups more often.

 

League average for point guards is 56% at the rim, Jennings was down under 43%. He was also pretty bad at anything under 15 feet compared to league average (according to hoopdata.com)

That is true, he's going to need to take the ball to the rack effectively to be a 'star'. Too bad Iverson has the attitude that he does, Jennings could learn a lot from him about that aspect of the game.

[davego]

If they can win 50, that would be awesome. Be nice to add a bit of a playoff run.

[nate82]

Can we get a new Bucks thread? This one is getting kind of long.

[trwi7]

Will Maggette be willing to pass up shots and rotate the ball? Will Gooden rotate on defense?

That's why I want Maggette as the 6th man. We had trouble scoring with the 2nd unit last year. Let him play with the 2nd unit and drive and draw fouls for most of the 2nd quarter and have them rack up fouls.

 

Really didn't like the Gooden signing, but he'll probably start and play backup C to Bogut.

[davego]

sure we could start a Bucks 2010-11 tread...the CDR Years...

[1992casey]

Here's the new topic:

 

Milwaukee Bucks 2010/2011