BTBP Roundtable: No Regrets for the Milwaukee Bucks
By Ti Windisch
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Nov 11, 2015; Denver, CO, USA; Milwaukee Bucks center Greg Monroe (15) gets ready to shoot against Denver Nuggets center J.J. Hickson (7), forward Danilo Gallinari (8), and guard Emmanuel Mudiay (0) during the second half at Pepsi Center. The Nuggets won 103-102. Mandatory Credit: Chris Humphreys-USA TODAY Sports
1. It’s been an up and down season for the Bucks so far. What, in your opinion, has been the team’s biggest strength thus far?
Adam McGee (@AdamMcGee11): This is a tough question, and that’s as big an indictment of the way the team has started the season as there possibly could be.
Funnily enough, three-point shooting has been a real strength. The Bucks are currently sixth in the NBA in percentage, although they rank 26th in attempts. Passing has been good too, although there’s still plenty of room for more. Milwaukee are at their best when they’re sharing the ball, as that’s how they can get everybody a touch in the offense.
Ti Windisch (@TiWindisch): The team’s shooting from long-range has been surprisingly quite good. Giannis Antetokounmpo has been sinking triples, and Jerryd Bayless and Greivis Vazquez have been hot lately as well.
This was anticipated as a weakness for this team earlier, but that doesn’t seem to be a problem anymore. The Bucks have a whole lot of issues, but at least the spacing has been good.
Jordan Treske (@jtresk26): Surprisingly, their efficiency on offense. Going into the season, we knew the flaws of certain players on the offensive end of the spectrum but the team has done a better job than a lot of people expected, even with how stagnant the offense can be sometimes so that’s definitely come as a surprise.
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John Heffernon (@Silky__Johnson): Passing. The Bucks have are 9th in assists per game. I think the offensive is more fluid this season and players have a lot more trust in their teammates.
Additionally, the Bucks are 6th in three-point percentage and I think that is mainly a function of players making the extra pass and giving up good looks for great looks.
Mike Helm (@FrightendInmate): They’ve done a great job of sharing the ball, currently ranking 9th in the league in assists per game. The Warriors showed, among other things, how deadly an offense can be when it shares the ball.
I wouldn’t say the Bucks offense is anywhere near elite or dangerous, but it’s a necessary building block for a team that will have championship aspirations. Hopefully sooner than later.
Dan Larsen (@DanLarsen88): Though things have been tough in the early going, the team’s biggest strength has been the play of Giannis Antetokounmpo.
Antetokounmpo has improved in many areas of his game. First, he’s getting to the basket with more frequency and finishing those chances once he gets there. He has had some rough games lately, but his finishing is much better than it was last year and will be essential to sustaining his hot start.
He’s also flashed an improved jumper and shown the ability to dominate for stretches. Too often last season, Antetokounmpo shied away from getting the ball in key situations. This season, he’s embraced the role more and dominated when the team decides it’s going to him.
Being 5-6 is disappointing, but Antetokounmpo gives the Bucks a reason to believe.
Next: What About The Weak Points?