Look out Bucks. Here comes the bottom, again.
This team has 3 players and the rest are just guys. Redd, player but not season difference maker. Bogut, a complimentary part, not "The Guy". Jefferson, end of his career, was top player and some nights will produce but not taking them to the playoffs. The rest are talented college players who are overmatched against pro teams.
That brings us to Coach Scott Skiles. I doubt he will last 3 years. This team needs to draft #1-3 each of the next couple years and get lucky with their picks. Like choosing the next Chris Paul instead of the next Andrew Bogut, nothing against AB. Add to that the need for a new arena, a bad economy which will definitely effect ticket sales in Milwaukee and you have a recipe for trouble.
I predict 30-52, that is probably over optimistic.
I have followed this team since Charlie Paulk was the first draft choice, before Big Lew Alcinder and it amazes me the team still exists with the poor direction of the ownership, Lord Kohl.
The one slim hope is Hammond actually puts this team on the map.

Just looking at pre season?

I'm laughing at the reports that they are a 7-8 seed with the pickups they have had.

Sorry not going to happen.

I feel like sending a message to Kohl that I need some governmental $$ for my financial troubles. That is about the only thing that he can do for me except sell the bucks.

Not based on preseason. Based on history of players & head coach. Roster one of weakest in league. Team always rebuilding. Owner cannot attract or find quality coach or players. Facilities dismal. City not a rich black mans destination. Need we go further?

They have a chance at the playoffs, sure... but a lot of things are going to have to happen in order for that to become reality:

- Redd emerges as a true superstar
- Bogut continues his development and becomes a double-double machine
- Ramon Sessions/Luke Ridnour are going to actually be solid at PG
- Jefferson elevates the team's D level
- Skiles' toughness comes through on the players
- Alexander has a positive impact this season
- Charlie Villanueva actually emerges as another double-double machine at PF

If only half of those things happen, the season should be considered a success. It might be a long year for the Bucks, but I think the franchise is headed into the right direction with Hammond at the helm. He has performed miracles already- he got rid of dead-weight contracts and now he has to develop the talent on board as well as get the new talent. It'll probably be a couple more lottery excursions to get good, young talent on board to improve the roster, and by then they'll have some cap room with Redd's deal expiring. They have a team full of good to decent complimentary parts- if they can land that superstar.... then eveything could click into place.

So you are saying 2010-2011? It would be wonderful for the long suffering fans. It is possible that the true answer, winning another NBA title is never. Players are not interested in Milwaukee, weather, beaches, size, culture and fame are in major metro markets and the two coasts. Baseball and Football are the sports of Milwaukee & Wisconsin. I know many will have great distaste for this post but the NBA and Milwaukee are an oxymoron.

I don't think you're toally wrong. The Bucks are very much Milwaukee's team, not the stste of WI's team like the others are. Part of that is that most of the rest of WI don't identify with the NBA and its culture. It's sad, but true. Most of my family are big Brewers, Packers, and Badger fans, but not interested at all in the Bucks.

That said, in 2001-02, the Bucks generated a lot of excitement and the BC was a rocking place to attend a game. I think much like the Brewers, if they start winning, the interest will return.

The only way this team gets great is if they get a superstar player in the next 2 years. If they catch lightning in a bottle (Dwayne Wade, Chris Paul, Dwight Howard), they can be good in a hurry with the makeup of this roster. It's what they're missing. Of course, you can say that about a lot of teams, but I think it's especially true for the Bucks. Redd and Bogut are great 2 and 3 guys- but you need a 1. You need a star, and suddenly those complimentary players start going to All Star games, too.

quote:

Originally posted by Johnny Boy:
So you are saying 2010-2011? It would be wonderful for the long suffering fans. It is possible that the true answer, winning another NBA title is never. Players are not interested in Milwaukee, weather, beaches, size, culture and fame are in major metro markets and the two coasts. Baseball and Football are the sports of Milwaukee & Wisconsin. I know many will have great distaste for this post but the NBA and Milwaukee are an oxymoron.

San Antonio has managed to win without being a major metro market.

The Bucks seemed to do well enough in 2001 and almost went to the finals. No reason that can't achieve that again with proper leadership. Yes, it may require a new owner a la the Brewers, but it is not impossible. With proper managment and coaching, the Bucks could be there in 2-3 years. Nothing to do but hope for progress this year.

Excellent reply. 1. I doubt many people in Milwaukee identify with the "NBA Culture".

quote:

Originally posted by Music City:
I don't think you're toally wrong. The Bucks are very much Milwaukee's team, not the stste of WI's team like the others are. Part of that is that most of the rest of WI don't identify with the NBA and its culture. It's sad, but true. Most of my family are big Brewers, Packers, and Badger fans, but not interested at all in the Bucks.

That said, in 2001-02, the Bucks generated a lot of excitement and the BC was a rocking place to attend a game. I think much like the Brewers, if they start winning, the interest will return.

The only way this team gets great is if they get a superstar player in the next 2 years. If they catch lightning in a bottle (Dwayne Wade, Chris Paul, Dwight Howard), they can be good in a hurry with the makeup of this roster. It's what they're missing. Of course, you can say that about a lot of teams, but I think it's especially true for the Bucks. Redd and Bogut are great 2 and 3 guys- but you need a 1. You need a star, and suddenly those complimentary players start going to All Star games, too.

quote:

San Antonio has managed to win without being a major metro market.

Not so fast- San Antonio is has the 7th largest population in the US, behind NY, LA, Chicago, Houston, Philly, and Phoenix (1,256,509) as of 2005. Milwaukee by comparison has half the population (578,887).

quote:

- Redd emerges as a true superstar

Redd is done emerging. I see no chance this ever happens.

He has hit his peak.

I'm going to keep my usual pre-season optimism. I was right in 1970 and I will someday be right again.

The quality of the GM and head coach just took a big jump up which should make for a better foundation. We need someone to surprise as Bogut, Jefferson, Redd just aren't going to be enough. Alexander, Sessions, ????

It'll be interesting to see Hammaonds next move.

quote:

Originally posted by phaedrus:

quote:

- Redd emerges as a true superstar

Redd is done emerging. I see no chance this ever happens.

He has hit his peak.

Might be true... but it is one of the things that must happen if the Bucks are to be a playoff team, IMO. It is interesting to note that the Bulls under skiles never had the offensive weapons that the Bucks have. Is Ben Gordon better than Redd? Is Luol Deng better than Jefferson? Are any of the Bulls interior players better than Bogut? Heinrich is better at this point than Sessions or Ridnour, but by how much? None of them are impact players.

So if Skiles can get that team to play into the playoffs and go past the first round, why can't he get the Bucks there as well? If they buy into his scheme and play D the way Skiles got those Bulls teams to play D, I think they could surprise.

I am worried about the Bucks. It could be a very long season right now after seeing their first few preseason games.

What should concern the Bucks is that I think they play like 12 of their first 19 games on the road or something ridiculous like that. That difficult for even good teams.

Fact is this team will be the underdog in 65-70 games out of 82, home or away.

quote:

Originally posted by Johnny Boy:

Jefferson, end of his career, was top player and some nights will produce but not taking them to the playoffs.

End of his career? He's only 28. You're reaching here......

quote:

Originally posted by Music City:
They have a chance at the playoffs, sure... but a lot of things are going to have to happen in order for that to become reality:

- Redd emerges as a true superstar
- Bogut continues his development and becomes a double-double machine
- Ramon Sessions/Luke Ridnour are going to actually be solid at PG
- Jefferson elevates the team's D level
- Skiles' toughness comes through on the players
- Alexander has a positive impact this season
- Charlie Villanueva actually emerges as another double-double machine at PF

If only half of those things happen, the season should be considered a success.

1. I don't see it
2. He did this the last half of last year, so I can see this happening.
3. I like this double-headed PG.
4. Can it go down?
5. We can hope.
6. Who knows with rookies?
7. I don't see this happening.

That's close to half.

Boy those Bucks are hot in the preseason. Can't wait to watch Redd jack up 30 shots a game and the team score 75-85 points a game. In this economy who is going to waste their $ on this team?

IMO, they'll be more competitive than they're showing in the pre-season, LOTS and LOTS of minutes being given to guys that'll be gone or have slivers in their arse in a few weeks ...

Going out on a limb, barring injury from the top3 (Jefferson, Redd, Bogut) the Bucks make the playoffs ...

That limb for your sake I hope is close to the ground. I think the only limb you could be on would be a willow tree.

One thing we learned abuot Ridnour- he can shoot, but he can't play a lick of D.

I don't think you can take a lot from the preseason because much like the NFL some teams really don't take it very seriously (i.e. Bucks) and they didn't play with a complete roster.

Someone mentioned Hammond and Skiles and they alone should help move the franchise ahead. It might take some time, but clearly I think they are headed in the right direction.

Jefferson is younger than Redd.....

quote:

Originally posted by Music City:

quote:

San Antonio has managed to win without being a major metro market.

Not so fast- San Antonio is has the 7th largest population in the US, behind NY, LA, Chicago, Houston, Philly, and Phoenix (1,256,509) as of 2005. Milwaukee by comparison has half the population (578,887).

Population of a city itself (i.e. within the city limits) does not speak to the size of a metropolitan area. There is no way that San Antonio is the 7th largest metropolitan area in the U.S.

from Wikepedia:
San Antonio 28th at 1.9M
Milwaukee 38th at 1.5M

The Salt Lake Tribune has picked the Bucks to win the division:

http://www.sltrib.com/jazz/ci_10838477