Milwaukee Bucks: Three reasons to watch
With the 2016-17 NBA season on the horizon, Paste BN Sports highlights the top three reasons to watch all 30 teams. We also recap any significant moves made in the offseason and project how your favorite team will finish.
Watchability ranking: 14th
What’s different? Matthew Dellavedova piqued the Bucks’ interest after his title run with the Cleveland Cavaliers. He could shore up some of the questions revolving around Milwaukee’s point guard situation. They also added stretch forward Mirza Teletovic, who’s coming off a career year with the Phoenix Suns.
Super Freak: Giannis Antetokounmpo is expected to resume his role as the team’s primary ballhandler this season. He’s big enough (6-11) to see past almost any defender and athletic enough to blow past any big man attempting to guard him. If teams put smaller, stronger defenders on him, the Bucks can clear out and he’ll post up his defender.
Making up for Middleton: There’s no getting past the loss of starting shooting guard Khris Middleton to a hamstring injury expected to keep him out about six months. His 18.2 points per game led the team last season. Though Dellavedova, a 41% three-point shooter in 2015-16, played an off-ball guard alongside LeBron James last year. The Bucks can rearrange their lineup in a number of interesting ways given their movable pieces. Teletovic broke the NBA record for most three-pointers made by a bench player (181) a season ago, so the Bucks should still be able to stretch the floor. Rookie guard Malcolm Brogdon could also play valuable minutes.
Parker’s revival: Jabari Parker has had a long two years in the NBA after tearing his anterior cruciate ligament early in his rookie season. From his role to his athleticism to his weight, it feels like the former No. 2 overall pick has been unfairly picked apart. Parker averaged 17.5 points over the final three months of the season, never shooting less than 48% in any month.
PROJECTED STARTING LINEUP
(Statistics from 2015-16 season)
- Matthew Dellavedova (with Cleveland) - Points: 7.5, assists: 4.4, rebounds: 2.1, steals: 0.6, field goal percentage: 40.5%
- Rashad Vaughn - Points: 3.1, rebounds: 1.3, assists: 0.6, steals: 0.4, field goal percentage: 30.5%
- Giannis Antetokounmpo - Points: 16.9, rebounds: 7.7, assists: 4.3, steals: 1.2, field goal percentage: 50.6%
- Jabari Parker - Points: 14.1, rebounds: 5.2, assists: 1.7, blocks: 0.4, field goal percentage: 49.3%
- Miles Plumlee - Points: 5.1, rebounds: 3.8, assists: 0.3, blocks: 0.8, field goal percentage: 60.1%
How good can they be? The Bucks find themselves in the thick of the playoff hunt along with teams like Chicago, New York and Washington.
Paste BN’s projection: 39-43
Follow Michael Singer on Twitter @MSinger