Alright...offering my kids up on the sacrificial altar:
The Milwaukee Bucks
Head Coach: Dave Cowens
Assistant Coach: Alvin Robertson, Paul Pressey
Starters:
C Brendan Haywood
PF Paul Millsap
SF Kevin Durant
SG J.R. Smith
PG Rodney Stuckey
6th man: F Jamario Moon
Bench: PG Luke Ridnour, F/C Ben Wallace, PF Tyler Hansbrough
10th-12th man: SG J.R. Giddens, SG Rashad McCants, F/C Tony Battie
IR List: G/F Marko Jaric, PG Anthony Johnson, PF Sean May
My belated thoughts on the Milwaukee Bucks.
Durant is breaking every scoring benchmark by age and rather than rave at length about the game changer, enough to say that he alone makes Milwaukee conversation worthy, both as a team for the future and postseason dark horse.
But he’s only one piece in possibly the league’s most underrated frontcourt. As a starter last season, Millsap averaged 16 points on 55% shooting and 10.3 rebounds. He’s a boon on defense and one of the league’s best offensive rebounders. He’s a fierce competitor, savvy and still developing. I love him alongside Durant, who’ll create space for Paul to operate on the block and the glass, and on the other end balance the power forward’s lack of height.
Haywood rounds out the starting lineup as the vocal, veteran defensive anchor. He’s a mobile, legit 7 footer, a strong on the ball defender, and solid shot blocker. His running mates will carry the scoring load but as the team’s 5th option he'll at least finish open looks around the basket.
Off the bench, Moon and Hansbrough should be exhausting to score against and to cover. I love both as reserves. Wallace is the x-factor here. Still may retire? Otherwise he should shore up the defense as he did in Cleveland despite struggling to adjust to spot duty. Or I love Tony Battie in his stead. (And Sean May is a worthwhile late draft signing who could prove to be a steal.)
I like Milwaukee’s backcourt balance less, although Stuckey and Smith are undeniable talents, capable of seizing control of a game. But despite my affection for both, I dislike how badly their flaws - chiefly, shaky shot selection and decision making - overlap. Ridnour isn’t much help; he’s a better floor general, but just as likely to fall in love with his own jumpshot. And going on down the line, team has the same problem with the (even more unreliable?) Shady and the sophomore Giddens. (And Ridnour and McCants are notably worse on defense.) So, I have some sympathy for Anthony Johnson is all.
Still, it’s already proven that Durant can thrive playing alongside a young, aggressive, low efficiency combo-guard. And in games when the backcourt is aligned, Bucks will able to out shoot (and beat) anyone.
EDIT: I worry that my first appraisal doesn't convey enough optimism. In all likelihood, Stuckey and Smith make strides again this season, so it's really a question of how much they improve.
Topic: 2009 Celticsblog Draft: Voting Analysis : Team of the Future (Read 672652 times)