Milwaukee Bucks: Predictions For The 2015-16 Season

By Marco Meily | Jul 31, 2015

Now that Summer League is officially in the books and we won’t see NBA action for another three months, now all us NBA fans can dream about is what exactly will happen next season. The Milwaukee Bucks have had a busy offseason and fans can look forward to seeing some fresh new faces come October.

The cogs are in place, now it is time to see how they fit. Which leads us to pose the question – what exactly can we expect from the Bucks this season, and will it be better?

A big key to the Bucks’ continued success this season will spring from their off-season acquisitions, notably Greg Monroe and Chris Copeland. Monroe comes in as a rare marquee signing for the Bucks, having rejected the Lakers and Knicks in order for the chance to play on a competitive team in the offseason.

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His offensive production is well documented, but his glaring weakness on the other end of the floor doesn’t quite fit the identity coach Jason Kidd has tried to instill on the team this past season.

If the team is able to hide Monroe’s defensive woes, or at least keep his negative impact on the other side of the spectrum, he’ll be a key cog in how the Bucks progress in the future. Copeland on the other hand, is pretty much a filler for Jabari Parker until the latter comes back in January following his rehabilitation from the ACL injury he suffered earlier last season.

Copeland has been known to be a knock-down shooter, posting impressive numbers (48% from 2 and 42% from 3), however, this was during his first season in the league three years ago. He’s digressed quite a bit, but given that he’ll enjoy more responsibility and minutes during the first half of the season, look for his numbers to inflate.

That being said, another key factor this year will be when Parker comes back as well as the production he’ll be able to contribute coming off of injury. Parker posted promising numbers while he played last season, a testament that show why the Bucks drafted him at No.2, but unless he’s able to improve and carry the load offensively, the team may find itself in deep waters against the Eastern heavyweights.

With Parker out until January, most fans will look towards the development of Giannis Antetokounmpo to cope with such withdrawal. Not only is the Greek Freak one of the most exciting prospects in the entirety of the league, he’ll also be given a chance to lead and carry the Bucks in many aspects until Parker returns.

Antetokounmpo, provided that he hits his ceiling, could become a triple double threat in any given game, harking back to the days of the Big-O.

Players such as Middleton and Michael Carter-Williams will also have to stay solid throughout the season and prove themselves as key Robins to the premier Batman’s of the franchise. The Bucks have established themselves as an up-and-coming team with their performance last season, and are easily recognizable with their above average length that has given even the most fluid of offenses some trouble.

As for playoff seeding, I’m predicting that if all goes well and the team follows a natural progression, we could see the Bucks land the fourth seed comfortably. Howard Beck of Bleacher Report has even predicted that the Bucks will finish with a positive record, and that contrary to most opinions, the East will be quite strong and competitive this year.

With upgrades (and presumed health) in MIA, IND, MIL, I'd say East playoff field is: CLE, CHI, MIA, ATL, WAS, TOR, MIL, IND.
— Howard Beck (@HowardBeck) July 3, 2015

The organization has all the pieces it needs in order to become a legitimate force in the NBA, and given the ways things have been going so far, stand alongside and go toe-to-toe with the juggernauts of the West.

Next: Eastern Conference Playoffs: Where Do The Bucks Fit In?

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