Via Hoops Habit
Key Players: Giannis Antetokounmpo, Khris Middleton, Eric Bledsoe, Malcolm Brogdon
After finishing last in season ticket sales just four years ago, the Milwaukee Bucks have sold a franchise-record 10,000 season tickets, placing them just outside the league's top-10 (11th) for most tickets sold.
While the team's new arena, Fiserv Forum, and their hiring of 2015 Coach of the Year Mike Budenholzer definitely play a part, Milwaukee fans are packing the house for one reason and one reason only -- the return of O.J. Mayo.
Following a two year ban over his second violation of the league's Anti-Drug Program, the former number three overall pick is eligible for reinstatement into the NBA. However, the Bucks, nor any other team, have claimed the 30-year-old shooting guard, so the fans of Milwaukee will have to settle for the 6'10, 23-year-old known worldwide as The Greek Freak.
Entering his sixth NBA season, Giannis Antetokounmpo is widely predicted to have an MVP-caliber season. To assist Giannis on his MVP chase, the Bucks signed stretch-4 Ersan Ilyasova to a three-year, $21 million deal and versatile center Brook Lopez to a one-year, $3.3 million deal.
However, the early head-scratching deal of Ersan Ilyasova forced the team to renounce the rights on promising forward Jabari Parker -- the team's only major loss.
Milwaukee's Best Case Scenario
Via ClutchPoints
10 words, "we're going to go forward with him at point guard," proved the brilliance of Jason Kidd. With the likes of Antetokounmpo and Ben Simmons, the idea of a 6'10+ player seems like no big deal; but, when Kidd first handed a then 20-year-old Giannis the keys to the Bucks offense, the idea was one of the league's biggest experiments.
Three years and two All-NBA selections later, the experiment proved a massive success, but Jason Kidd won't be around to reap the benefits. After his gutsy Giannis position change paid off, Kidd became stagnant and stubborn in the creativity department, causing the Bucks to be capped out as just a slightly above-average team.
Recognizing the team's obvious length and athleticism advantage, Jason Kidd implemented a defense that sent two defenders to rush the ball while long wingspan players awaited a rushed pass. The system was initially a success as the Bucks finished second in the NBA's team defensive rating for the 2014-2015 season; but, as teams caught on to Kidd's aggressive philosophy, one the best potential defenses finished 22nd, 19th, and 25th in defensive efficiency the next three years. Kidd's unwillingness to change matched with his reliance on a slow form of Giannis iso-ball on the offensive end hindered both the superstar's and the team's potential.
Following four straight seasons of 42 or fewer wins, the stagnant Milwaukee Bucks fired Jason Kidd mid-season and poached a game-changer in one of basketball's brightest minds, Mike Budenholzer, from the Atlanta Hawks.
Via NBA.com
Imagine a 6'11 freak of nature that's capable of averaging 27/10/5 and can go end-to-end in two dribbles attacking full speed at you. Now imagine that freak of nature unchained after three years. That's the scene 29 other teams are going to have to deal with this season, as Giannis Antetokounmpo finally gets to play in a modern fast-paced, spacing-oriented offense under Mike Budenholzer.
Look for Giannis to match his stellar scoring and rebounding averages, while shooting up in the assist category. In past seasons, Antetokounmpo would average four to five assists off drawn double teams and sloppy forced kick outs; under Budenholzer, the Greek Freek will finally be able to take full advantage of the offensive weapons at his disposal.
Arguably the most underrated weapon in the entire league, Khris Middleton should be able to build on his impressive 20/5/4 season. Milwaukee clearly has high expectations of the 27-year-old, considering their rejection of a Timberwolves Jimmy Butler offer due to the inclusion of Middleton. Joining Middleton on the Batman like weapon belt that is the Milwaukee offense are guards Eric Bledsoe and Malcolm Brogdon. Bledsoe averaged an impressive 17.8 points, 3.9 rebounds, and 5.1 assists in his 71 games as a Milwaukee Buck, but Terry Rozier's emasculation of the 28-year-old point guard cast a dark shadow over his first season with the team. Coming off a partially torn tendon in his left quad, the 2016-2017 Rookie of the Year, Malcolm Brogdon averaged a quiet 13/3/3 in his sophomore season.
Milwaukee goes as far as Giannis Antetokounpo. Budenholzer enabling Antetokounmpo to run freely with the other weapons on the Bucks' roster puts no boundary on the heights the Greek Freak can take himself and the team.
Milwaukee's Worst Case Scenario
Via Yahoo!Sports
Remember the 2017 playoffs? Remember how bright the flashes of potential Thon Maker were producing shined? Remember how last season was supposed to be Maker's breakout year? Remember how future Hall of Famer Kevin Garnett declared Thon Maker would be an MVP someday? SoundSports remembers.
The purpose of that wasn't to declare Thon Maker a failure; he is just 21-years-old and entering his third NBA season -- a prime developmental year for young players. However, the point was to show how little weight is attached to the expectations of the Milwaukee Bucks.
Small market teams like the Bucks are content with just making a playoff appearance, even if it doesn't go past the first round; but, once-in-a-generation talents like Giannis Antetokounmpo aren't as easily satisfied.
Budenholzer is on record as wanting to simplify the Bucks' defense to unlock the team's potential on that end of the floor; however, large minutes presumably going to more offense orientated bigs like Brook Lopez and Ersan Ilyasova will leave Antetokounmpo having to anchor the defense as well as carrying the offense.
If Antetokounmpo's heroic on-the-court actions aren't met with team success the Bucks window will inch closer and closer to shut. General manager John Hurst stated just that after his firing of Jason Kidd with the lines, "You have short windows in the NBA to build toward contention and actually contend, and we didn’t wanna waste time in putting our team in the best position to do that."
Whether it be due to the lack of accountability or defense, the Bucks failure to meet expectations this season will cast some doubt in the loyal mind of their franchise face, and that's as bad as it gets.
Record Prediction: 50-32; Budenholzer coaches Giannis to an MVP-caliber season, as they lead the Bucks past mediocrity.