Milwaukee Bucks 2019 Pre-Season Tread

[Mr Southpaw]

It is October and time to get ready for the Regular Season. I am hoping the new players are a better sum addition than the lose of Malcolm B. I am also hoping Kris Middleton can take the next step and GA can fine tune his 3 pointer.

[Mr Southpaw]

Anybody see the scrimmage yesterday. I guess Donte looked really good. That would be an awesome addition!

[long ball]

I watched some of the scrimmage. Donte did look good. hit a couple threes. Moved really well. Seems to be healthy which is good.

 

I'm heading to the pre season game tonight. I live near the United Center so I figured it was worth the $10 to get in the door. Was hoping to sit in the lower bowl, but those tickets were still $40+ on stub hub which isn't worth it to me for a pre season game.

[brooks_quichenick]

It's good to hear Ted Davis again even if it's the preseason

[HiAndTight]

Gifford looked really good. He was one of the bigs I was hoping the Bucks might pick up in the draft...prior to trading away that pick.

 

But good to see a productive night from Bender, Robin Lopez shooting the 3. Other than that, I'd be curious what those who watched the game more closely thought.

[FVBrewerFan]

Giannis playing like this is game 7 of the finals and olympic gold medal game combined. Great tone to set for the team.

[nate82]

Giannis playing like this is game 7 of the finals and olympic gold medal game combined. Great tone to set for the team.

 

Giannis is just overly competitive, which is a good thing most of the time.

[brwrsfan]

Kyle Korver....the guy couldn't possibly fit on this team any better IMO. Last night comes in, drills 3 consecutive triples. Just something this team badly needs with Giannis on the floor.

[tmwiese55]

The depth on this team is something we've never seen before. Just think, 2 years ago we're playing guys like Liggins and Gary Payton JR, and starting them some games. Guys who basically haven't gotten real NBA minutes since. Now, our end of the bench guys could legit be starting in the league. Should be a recipe for a breeze of a regular season as long as Giannis doesn't get hurt. Final four level of playoffs will be the real test again.

[Mr Southpaw]

Kyle Korver....the guy couldn't possibly fit on this team any better IMO. Last night comes in, drills 3 consecutive triples. Just something this team badly needs with Giannis on the floor.

Agree 100%. Let GA drive and then dish rotate the ball to KK and let it fly. GA works for the offensive rebound … if needed!

[FVBrewerFan]

Korver is getting all the attention, but Matthews and RoLo will have a bigger impact.

 

If anyone watched the 2nd half of the Jazz game, you had a glimpse. Bucks defense suffered last year when Lopez was out. Now with his brother, there will always be a rim protector, often 2. One of the most underrated things in the game today. Matthews hit 3s, but also showed he can still penetrate and dish or finish.

 

I said it after all these moves were made. I really liked Brogdon. But Matthees, Korver, RoLo, and Bender >> Brogdon and Mirotic.

 

One more thing. Enough with talk about Giannis improving his shooting. This happens evert off-season. Look out league, wait and see his 3ball. So and so has been working with him. He's never worked harder on it. Just stop. He can't shoot, and that's ok. Kareem couldn't shhot 3s if they existed then, neither could Shaq. It may happen one day, we don't know. Until then, I would be thrilled if he got back to shooting 77-78% from the line.

[nate82]

Bledsoe out 2-3 weeks. Uggg the PG position looks to be a problem now if Bledsoe misses any more time for this injury.

[tmwiese55]

Bledsoe out 2-3 weeks. Uggg the PG position looks to be a problem now if Bledsoe misses any more time for this injury.

 

Generally agree with your notion that PG is thin overall. But, this is the best time for the injury to happen as everyone else is currently healthy. Plus, it'll really only be the first week or two of the season. And in the Bucks situation, all that matters is playoffs anyway.

 

With how much Giannis initiates they should be more than capable of handling this loss for a bit. Plus guys like KM, Divincenzo, Mathews. But, to your point, if all you have is 34ish year old George Hill your depth is at risk at that position. Guys like DD, Pat, maybe Wes at times can defend PGs on D for small stretches when Hill is resting.

[nate82]

I am more worried about if this injury is something Bledsoe will have to deal with all year. The PG depth on this team is poor at best without the injury. Depending on Hill for a long period of time may mean the 3 or 4 seed in the playoffs instead of the 1 or 2 seed. Falling to the 4 seed is worrisome the 3 seed not so much.

 

Hopefully Bledsoe will be fine and this won't linger on later into the season.

[tmwiese55]

I really don't have anywhere near that concern for a rib injury. Just get him healthy by December and it won't matter unless Hill gets hurt too. If Giannis doesn't get hurt there is no way they shouldn't be a top 2 seed, even if Bledsoe tore his ACL today. I suppose if like multiple major guys got hurt, yea ok, but not just one. I could see if it was a hammy tear or something as those linger forever, but a rib. Even if 3 weeks turns into 6 it's no big deal at this point of the season. Just remember last year Brogdon missed much more time late in the season and they didn't miss a beat, and the team is even deeper now.

 

This team is like 14 deep with high quality players. Unlike anything we've ever experienced as Bucks fans.

[FVBrewerFan]

Full disclosure, I'm not a big Bledsoe fan. But I don't see this is a problem at all, in fact with all the guards they have it let's them give big minutes to Donte and Sterling early in the season to see what you have. And experiment more with big lineups.

 

People still think of PG like it's 1986. NBA offenses are pretty positionless these days, Bucks moreso than most. You just don't need a "true" PG. Defense is where it comes into play, and where losing Bledsoe could hurt a bit. Someone who can hang with quick guards. But it's not like that one thing is going to cost that many (or any) games.

[homer]

Is it too soon to get a little excited about the Dragan Bender signing?

[nate82]

Is it too soon to get a little excited about the Dragan Bender signing?

 

Maybe but he was the one I was most intrigued by this off season.

[Mr Southpaw]

Is it too soon to get a little excited about the Dragan Bender signing?

No, too much individual talent and too much team talent that lets him work within himself.

[CheezWizHed]

Frankly, this is the perfect place for him. No pressure, 3pt-&-drive offensive focus, play behind GA and KM... if he can't make it here, he probably won't make it.

[KeithStone53151]

I'm admittedly not a big basketball guy, but on paper I feel like our depth is ridiculous. I could see a significant chunk of games where Giannis plays maybe 20-25 minutes and not at all in the 4th quarter...and we win by 30. Wilson, Brown, DiVincenzo, Connaughton, R Lopez, Korver...most of those guys start on more than half of rosters and none are in our top 7-8 players. I'd like to see us be smart with minutes all year wherever possible...this team with this depth is built for playoff basketball.

[CheezWizHed]

I'm admittedly not a big basketball guy, but on paper I feel like our depth is ridiculous. I could see a significant chunk of games where Giannis plays maybe 20-25 minutes and not at all in the 4th quarter...and we win by 30. Wilson, Brown, DiVincenzo, Connaughton, R Lopez, Korver...most of those guys start on more than half of rosters and none are in our top 7-8 players. I'd like to see us be smart with minutes all year wherever possible...this team with this depth is built for playoff basketball.

 

[sarcasm]I'm throwing the challenge flag on that one. The refs are reviewing it and... they agree with you.[/sarcasm]

 

Ro-Lo might start on a few teams, but I'd be surprised if any of the others could. Korver has the talent, but too old to start regularly. The rest are backups on any team. I like the depth we have, but that was a bit too optimistic, IMO.

[Mr Southpaw]

I'm admittedly not a big basketball guy, but on paper I feel like our depth is ridiculous. I could see a significant chunk of games where Giannis plays maybe 20-25 minutes and not at all in the 4th quarter...and we win by 30. Wilson, Brown, DiVincenzo, Connaughton, R Lopez, Korver...most of those guys start on more than half of rosters and none are in our top 7-8 players. I'd like to see us be smart with minutes all year wherever possible...this team with this depth is built for playoff basketball.

 

[sarcasm]I'm throwing the challenge flag on that one. The refs are reviewing it and... they agree with you.[/sarcasm]

 

Ro-Lo might start on a few teams, but I'd be surprised if any of the others could. Korver has the talent, but too old to start regularly. The rest are backups on any team. I like the depth we have, but that was a bit too optimistic, IMO.

 

Lopez 36

Brown 7

Wilson 3

Connaughton 2

DiVincenzo 0

Korver 0

 

I would argue that Donte and Wilson could start on most average to below average NBA teams. There is no doubt that these six are way better than most teams 8th through 13th players. I would only ask Bud one request...play Pat Connaughton more, I would not mind seeing him start in the place of WMJ. I just love the way he plays.