Bucks Season Starting up

[RobDeer 45]

I didn't see another thread on this topic so I hope I'm not duplicating.

 

Just wondering what your thoughts are on this upcoming season. NBA can be frustraiting but I still enjoy it, especially when the Bucks are doing well. I really like the guys we brought in this year and I think it will be interesting. Mason has always been one of my favorites and I'm glad he's back. I hope he still has his explosiveness.

[crewcrazy]

If everyone stays healthy, they should improve just based on the fact that they're no longer coached by Terry Stotts. The Central Division is probably going to be tough again, though, so things won't be easy. Hopefully they can actually draw up a few plays for Bogut this year.

[homer]

I'm actually mildly interested in the Bucks this year. I'm curious how good Yi can be.

[MarquesJohnson2000]

I expect Yi will struggle, particularly on defense, which may limit his playing time given Larry K's supposed emphasis on D. (Based on his performance in the exhibition opener, Larry may not play the bad guy in this situation, as Yi may find himself in frequent foul trouble).

 

I am skeptical (as you may have guessed) about this team's ability and commitment to defense. Stotts talked a good game about defense during training camp as well.

 

It's encouraging to hear that Michael Redd seems to be taking things more seriously this season.

[patrickgpe]

Firstly i think our defensive personal is better than last years. We now have 4 guys who have a can play good d, ruffin, bell, mason, and ivey (i know ivey and ruffin won't get much pt). Bogut seems committed to improving d which could go a long way in overall team defense. If coach K can improve the interior defense we may be decent. I know we are going to put up some points, but at some point you got to stop people. Seems like we have been saying this since i became a bucks fan.

[dadofandrew]

They were 17-16 last year before the injuries hit, so a .500 finish isn't out of the question. I don't like their depth again, but 35+ and a playoff spot is possible.

[ryne100]

I love how Wisconsin gets a piece of the Asian marketing. ?The business side will be awesome for the Bucks.??Are we?going to get alot of Chinese ads like Japanese companies do for Matsui and Ichiro? ?Or at least can we get some sweet youtube videos of Chinese kids lip-syncing Backstreet Boys wearing a Yi jersey?

 

I'm still not convinced that the Bucks can compete at a high level without an upgrade at point guard. ?I wanted Chris Paul over Bogut so bad............

 

 

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[trwi7]

This team has a lot of potential but again we're going to have to see on court performance before we can say anything more than a team with a bunch of potential.

Two under the radar signings that I really like are Royal Ivey and Michael Ruffin. Two good defensive players that can be used in a change of pace situation for 5-10 minutes. They know their roles aren't to score and appear to be fine with that. Add that to Bell and we have more defensive players on this team than we've had all decade.http://static.yuku.com//domainskins/bypass/img/smileys/wink.gif

We know scoring won't be a problem Williams, Redd, Simmons, Villanueva, Bogut, possibly Yi can all score. The only problem is can Krystkowiak get them to play defense? Listening to the first two preseason games (yes I know it's only preseason) it sounds like they are playing agressive defense and forcing turnovers.

Also during the first preseason game on WSSP Mo Williams and Ted Davis threw a couple little shots out at Stotts. Mo said something like "Yeah we talked about defense when he was here but that's basically all we did, talk about it." and then Ted said something about Stotts not using Bogut correctly in the offense.

[JJHardy7]

We had TJ Ford when we passed on Paul.

 

From what I've read (I haven't followed Mason too much since he got traded), Mason's game has slipped a lot. I'm hoping the "experts" are wrong.

 

I've followed the Bucks for awhile and I really don't see how we improved all that much on defense. I think like most NBA teams effort is the most important thing on defense. It looks like Coach K is going to get the most out of these guys.

 

I don't think Yi will struggle all that much on offense this year. I don't picture him driving to the basket, but he'll knock down his fair share of shots from the outside. His defense is going to need a lot of work.

[Diskono]

There were a few games late last season where I thought Mo Williams actually looked really good legitmate point guard. In particular, this game. He scored 10 points, but had 13 assists and was creating quality opportunities left and right for Bogut, Villanueva, and Patterson. He has the technology. I'd take fewer points for performances like that any day. Hopefully Krystkowiak can get more of that out of him.

[kgbaseball]

I was mad when the Bucks reacquired Mason. What the heck do the Bucks need him for? He doesn't do anything really well, and he's only a decent scorer, something this team doesn't need.

[ryne100]

Mason does sweet dunks. Every team needs a Darvin Hamm or Desmond Mason to rattle rims in garbage time to keep people from leaving. Like Yi, Mason is good business.

[JJHardy7]

Getting Mason for $5 million/year makes the Simmons signing even worse. I didn't like it when they signed him and I still don't like it. Hopefully he'll actually stay healthy this year. He was supposed to be a big defensive player, but I didn't see that 2 years ago.

[davego]

Good points on Mason and Simmions. Best situation woudl be that Bobby actually plays aer sort of lives up to what the Bucks thought they were getting and Mason can be a 4 minute a quater energy kind of guy.

 

If the O can go thru the bigs (Redd will get his points anyway) Milwaukee could be pretty solid. Being a 4 or 5 seed wouldn't be out of the question.

 

First time I see a 2-3 zone or a bunch of 1/2 court, mindless traps I swear I'll scream.