Milwaukee Bucks: Media Day roundup 2018-19 season

Marc Lasry, Wes Edens, Jamie Dinan, Mike Fascitelli

Edens on expectations for the year ahead:

"“We had a pretty good run last year, but the season ended too early. Game 7 was a disappointing way to end it, but obviously we had a terrific season with a lot of development and a lot of things to take away that are positive. And I think the offseason was a really good one. We got better with the draft with Donte [DiVincenzo], we got some veterans in the door with Ersan [Ilyasova] and Brook Lopez, everyone else on the team is healthy, a year older and a year more experienced. You know, it’s a competitive league. The East is going to be tough, even with LeBron on the West coast, but we like our team a lot. Of course, then the big addition is the coaching staff. We think Mike [Budenholzer], and his staff, is really the right guy for the job and we just couldn’t be more excited about having him here.”"

Lasry on Giannis Antetokounmpo‘s potential as a difference-maker:

"“I think it’s another year. I think that Giannis [Antetokounmpo], every year it seems he keeps getting better, and if that continues, who knows what could happen.”"

Edens on planning to make the most of the opportunity Giannis provides the franchise:

"“Every year when you have Giannis on your team, and the rest of team, is a real opportunity. And we don’t want to waste opportunities. I think there’s been a lot of developments in the team the last couple of years, but we feel like we’ve a very competitive team right now and we want to do what we can to win, right now.”"

Lasry on the Bucks’ overall progression and what that means for the team’s perception heading into the season:

"“I think when you look at what’s happened, every year has gotten better. There’s a lot of expectation from us, from [the media], from the fans, from the team, from the coaching staff. I think our goal is you want to keep developing, and you want to keep doing better. Last year, I was massively depressed when we lost Game 7. I was hoping we’d win and we didn’t. You sort of look at this year and you’re hoping you’re going to get…it’s not the second round, you’re hoping you’re going to get to the Eastern Conference Finals. If everybody stays healthy and we play well, you never know. I think everybody wants the same thing. I think we are in a position to be there, and hopefully we’ll get there.”"

Fascitelli on trying to channel the positive momentum surrounding all facets of the organization:

"“Just as in a game, you have momentum, I think with all of those little things and big things, we have momentum. In every aspect, from the facilities to the coaching to the players. So I think we have to capitalize on that this year. We have the momentum.”"

Dinan on how he expects the Bucks to improve following their offseason acquisitions:

"“I think with some of the offseason moves we did, bringing Ersan back, signing Brook, I think we’re going to be much more effective spreading the court this year. I think that’s going to create a lot more opportunity for both Giannis and Eric [Bledsoe] to penetrate, and I think when you have, not arguably, probably the best player in the East and the least guardable player, it’s just going to create huge opportunity for us and headaches for the opposition.”"

Edens on the differences with the coaching change:

"“I think the one obvious difference around the team is that Bud has a system. He has a system that he plays, he has players he wants to play in the system, you can see it in the practices, you can see it in his approach to the game, and I think that’s a material change. I think giving people a job, telling them what their jobs are, and hiring the right people for those jobs is essentially what a system means. It’s had great success in the past, and let’s hope it has great success here.”"