Milwaukee Bucks: 5 goals for Tony Snell in 2018-19 season

Regaining role in starting lineup

As alluded to all throughout this preview, Snell’s place in the Bucks’ starting unit became increasingly untenable as last season wore on.

After coming to the Bucks to fill the void left in the wake of Khris Middleton‘s torn hamstring injury two years ago, Snell was a mainstay in the Bucks’ starting lineup during 2016-17 by logging 80 starting nods, which tied with superstar Giannis Antetokounmpo that year.

But that number dropped to 59 in the 75 appearances Snell tallied last season, in part due to injury as well as enduring his cold spells that led to him falling out of favor with former head coaches Jason Kidd and Joe Prunty.

That carried over into the Bucks’ first round series with the Boston Celtics and as a result of that, Snell’s playing time in the playoffs significantly decreased year over year in the postseason (185 minutes for Snell in 2017 compared to 134 for him in 2018).

Snell commented on his marginalized role late in the season and in the playoffs and how he’s adjusted to that during the offseason at this year’s Media Day held early last week:

"“I mean that’s part of the playoffs. Things like that are going to happen and you’ve just got to stay ready and stay prepared. This summer time has helped me out a lot, to get better, and to be prepared for it.”"

Despite all of that, early signs from the start of the Bucks’ training camp this year may indicate that Snell will have to win his spot back in the starting five in convincing fashion as Malcolm Brogdon has been getting significant run with the team’s group of starters under new head coach Mike Budenholzer.

Now it may be premature to read through any early tea leaves during training camp as things are always subject to change. With that said, Brogdon’s versatility may be viewed more favorably by Coach Bud compared to Snell’s more specialist tendencies.

Whatever the case may be, it certainly seems like something to pay attention to as the start of the season inches ever closer.

Be sure to keep coming around here to Behind the Buck Pass for more individual season previews in the lead up to the start of the 2018-19 NBA season.