Can Bucks secure a higher seed than us?

[ralph]

The bucks played inspired B-ball last season, without their All Star Center, a 37 year old 6'9 replacement + A weak offense.
This offseason they upgraded the entire roster, They drafted the PF of the future Larry Sanders the kid was one of the rookies with the best performances in summer league. They also added  Drew Gooden who is a good rebounder and post scorer. Their bench is very potent. I think that team could win 50+ games next season and it's possible they secure a higher seed than the Celtics, But I still think we are the better team .

[Fafnir]

I don't think so. I think they were playing above their heads to rise as high as they did. Their FA signings also give me pause. I don't think Drew Gooden or Maggette will help them as much as others think.

Add in the uncertainty of Bogut being ready to start the season and I think they're still a 5-8 seed. Plus Scott Skiles has a history of burning his young teams to the ground, eventually they tune him out. This might be the year.

[dark_lord]

the only way that would happen is if we get hit with the injury bug to key players.

[KCattheStripe]

They also added  Drew Gooden who is a good rebounder and post scorer.

This is where you lost me.

[Donoghus]

I like what they're doing in Milwaukee although I don't believe they'll finish ahead of us in the East standings.   Like DL mentioned, injuries are the only reason that I would have reason to believe they finish above us.  If Bogut's not ready to go in Nov/Dec, then I find the possiblity extremely unlikely.  They should be a playoff team but they're not a bonafide contender.

[Who]

I doubt it. Boston would have to be hit pretty hard by injuries to fall below the Bucks. I am thinking 57-59 wins for the C's next season.

I don't think the Bucks become a threat until the high 40s or possibly low 50s if everything goes right for them.

Pretty solid margin for error for the C's.

[Roy H.]

I don't think so.  I think the top four seeds will be some combination of Miami, Orlando, Chicago, and Boston.  I think Atlanta will fall back a bit, and Milwaukee will finish 5th or 6th.

[CelticG1]

I could see it being pretty close like us and Atlanta last year with the Bucks very capable of getting a higher seed than us. Also it's not like we were well above the next seed. Miami was 4 or 5 games back from us at the end of last season.
On the other hand our team is really good and they are more than capable of piling up wins. There has to be a ton of motivation there between losing in the finals last year to the Miami clowns teaming up, to us signing the 2 O'Neals among others. Anything could happen.

A couple reasons I think we might get a lower seed:
-It's not if we have injuries, it's when and how bad those injuries are. I think it is very likely for KG, Pierce, Ray, Shaq and Jermaine to sit out multiple games whether they are resting, have nagging injuries, or are just plain inured. I think just about all those guys have missed significant time in the past 2 years. Not to mention we won't even have Perk back till the earliest after all star break.
-We will also be limiting minutes. The Bucks are gonna have Bogut, along with their other key players playing 40 minutes a game and they can do that for a season without breaking down as much as a team like us will.

The reasons we could finish higher or very high:
-Minimal injuries ( i think this is pretty much impossible to even wish for at this point)
-Our star power. We have so many talented, solid, offensive and defensive players on this team that I could probably coach them and they would still get in the playoffs.
-Our Bench/Depth. On paper we have a very solid bench IMO with great depth. If these guys live up to what we hope and what they honestly should be able to do than they could be a main reason for getting us a higher seed for the playoffs.

[wdleehi]

No.


45 win team that ran into the right under-performing team in the playoffs. 

[Prof. Clutch]

Can they?  Certainly...although I think it's unlikely.

[2short]

They also added  Drew Gooden who is a good rebounder and post scorer.

This is where you lost me.

I see no way the Bucks could do this unless we have season (knocking on wood) injuries to Rondo, KG and 1 other major player.

[Witch-King]

I'm going to say no -- Rondo + Shaquille O'Neal seems like a deadly one-two punch, I'm not sure if Milwuakee's version of 'The Shack-Attack' will be any where near as effective. Did I mention Rajon could just kick it out to Ray or Pierce or 'oop it to Garnett (only if KG's knees are feeling healthy). I'm sorry but I don't see Brandon Jennings being able to carry the Bucks all season and them landing a higher seed than the C's do, save for if one or more of our starters were injured at once.

[nickagneta]

Like Fafnir, I don't like what they added this summer. Maggette is a selfish player. Salmons is inconsistent from year to year, game to game, heck even half to half. He always seems to score when his team least needs it and not score when his team most needs it. Also, what is Gooden on his like 8th team in 9 years. There's a reason. He's a selfish stats guy that is awful as a team guy and not well liked around the league. I saw Larry Sanders play in person several times and he's never really impressed me against less than good talent. Against NBA talent? I don't know.

Now add in a PG who's TS% hovers in the low 40s, a center who may miss the year 2010, a coach that can't decide how to properly use Mbah a Moute and tends to have his team stop listening to him after a couple years and a vet SG that probably won't be back and I don't see any way they finish above the C's unles, as DL said, major Green injuries occur.

This Bucks team, to me, might be one of the most over rated going into a season than many I can remember over the last decade.

[slamtheking]

unlikely

C's learned last year that even though they can coast a bit in the regular season and turn it on for the playoffs, I think they also learned that home court does make a difference in a close series.  I think the C's will make an effort to get a top 3 seed if not the #2 seed.  (I don't see anyone catching Miami for best record)

[pearljammer10]

Fear the deer men...


I think the bucks will be making some big noise in the East this year and will surprise many people... However, the Celtics will still finish higher, no doubt.