Bucks 2024-25 Season Thread

[Voyageur]

Khris Middleton already nursing injuries, and we're still in preseason. They need to plan on using Prince, and anyone else they can at the 3, as if he didn't exist, and consider him a luxury in the lineup when he's in shape to play.

Portis played lights out against the Lakers. He seems to be sending a message. I'm not certain how much Prince brings to the table. It's early, he's going to learn how to play with the starters as time goes on. I'm looking forward to seeing how Gary Trent, Jr, fits in. He could give a lot of quality minutes next to Lillard, give us some defense on the perimeter. AJ Johnson could be an enormously good project player in two or three years. The kid has game, and is not intimidated. A little G league time, and eventually makes it to the roster full time. This is the make it or break it year for Beauchamp. He seems to have the tools, but he hasn't stepped up and taken it to the limit of what he can do for some reason. I hope he finds it this year.

Rivers was wise bringing Darvin Ham back for the sidelines. This guy can get the best out of players who will listen. Fortunately, most of the Bucks fit that bill. His stint with the Lakers was doomed from the start. Too many players on that roster who are beyond being able to be coached up. As good of a person as LeBron James seems to be, I have a hunch he's also that difficult to coach from a team standpoint. He's the kind of player that people mesh around him, he's not going to bend his game to meet theirs. We have that in Milwaukee. Giannis, and Damien. Their skills almost demand others adjust, not them. That can cause a problem, because their games haven't really meshed on the court the way most of us hoped this past year. The question we need to ask is if it will mesh this year.

Pat Connaughton's days in Milwaukee are coming to an end. He could be traded this year. Next year he won't be there. Brooks Lopez may be long in the tooth, but the guy is a competitor day in and day out. He may not put up gaudy numbers, but he's there when needed, often enough to be a solid member of this team. The problem is, his age. I think this is his last hurrah too, and I really hate seeing it end. I really enjoy watching the big guy out there hustling around the court like a kid who's trying to make the team. You never see him let down on plays.

If the Bucks do poorly, and Giannis is unhappy, I think we see him asking to move on to greener pastures. In a way, I don't blame him, and in a way, it could also be good for the Bucks' future, after this coming season. He's going to be worth a lot of draft capital, and probably a quality player or two. The trick is to find the right trade partner, where he's going to be happy, and they're willing to change their play to match his.

I see that Mark Cuban has said he'd be more than happy to own another sports team, as long as he could team up with Shaq. Man! Would I love to see them buy out the group in Milwaukee, and keep Junior Bridgeman on board as one of the owners. That would be three guys who could turn it into a winning franchise that could be a dynasty. All three of them bring different dimensions of leadership to the table, and the Bucks name would be as popular world wide as the Celtics are today. Love it! Just dreaming there folks. Gotta have them.

 

[Voyageur]

Not much good to report about the Bucks, after they were outplayed by the worst team in the NBA.

 

[Voyageur]

Watching the Bucks pathetic game against the Celtics, I could only wonder what could have happened, back in 2020, if they would have had someone who knew what they were doing running the franchise. Now, none of it matters. Middleton signed to a long term contract that means cap wasted on IR, and Lillard on the floor, not meshing in the slightest with Giannis. Adding to the woes, none of the offense is directed Lopez, so he's just kind of out there, occupying space on offense. All they do is throw up bricks beyond 3, and watch Giannis drive to the bucket.

That's it for the offense. On defense, everyone is scrambling to try to cover 5 guys with four doing it. Lillard watches, or gets lost in transitions.

It's dismantle time.

 

[weeds]

Watching the Bucks pathetic game against the Celtics, I could only wonder what could have happened, back in 2020, if they would have had someone who knew what they were doing running the franchise. Now, none of it matters. Middleton signed to a long term contract that means cap wasted on IR, and Lillard on the floor, not meshing in the slightest with Giannis. Adding to the woes, none of the offense is directed Lopez, so he's just kind of out there, occupying space on offense. All they do is throw up bricks beyond 3, and watch Giannis drive to the bucket.

That's it for the offense. On defense, everyone is scrambling to try to cover 5 guys with four doing it. Lillard watches, or gets lost in transitions.

It's dismantle time.

What this man said!

 

[weeds]

Lillard isn't hitting his 3 point launchers and doesn't play defense. A Porsche with a blown engine.

 

[Voyageur]

Lillard isn't hitting his 3 point launchers and doesn't play defense. A Porsche with a blown engine.

I was actually sick to my stomach watching the Bucks last night. Lillard is a waste to the Bucks. He has absolutely nothing of value to give them. I wish they'd trade him now, and let someone else grow into the lineup. Lord knows, we aren't going to get much for him any longer.

Prince has played some respectable ball, but his time is limited. He's apparently been told he's a caddy for Lillard. If I said it's time to trade Giannis, I'd be starting an avalanche of attacks against me in most circles. But, we need to face it. He's not a multi-dimensional player. He has his game, and it plays well, if you have the right surrounding cast. We don't have that kind of team any longer.

Middleton? As soon as he gets healthy, and puts up decent numbers, trade him. Get something out of him while you still can. Begin rebuilding, and don't take third tier players as compensation for these guys. Get picks, and a chance to rebuild with someone pulling the strings in the front office, and on the sidelines, who knows what they're doing.

If you look at how poorly this team is playing, you can see immediately why Terry Stotts wanted out of there. There's nothing that resembles a team of professional basketball players, that are all on the same page.

After listening to Rivers comments in an interview, and Lillard talking about where it has to go, and seeing both of them totally ignore what they said in those conversations, I knew inside that this team is done. They are no longer a threat, and it might be difficult for them to make the playoffs. It's time to clean house.

 

[Pokerbrat2000]

I've only watched the first game of the season, against the 76'ers. I thought that night showed some promise.

However, since then, it appears this team is a complete trainwreck.

Poor Giannis.

 

[Voyageur]

I watched the game against Cleveland last night at the same time as I watched the Badgers get hammered by Iowa. I have no answer for how poorly they have been playing. I do know one thing. Doc Rivers has a losing record since taking over the team, and it's a horrible record. Not even close to being able to make a run at a playoff spot.

This whole thing has gone sour.

 

[DoURant]

I watched the game against Cleveland last night at the same time as I watched the Badgers get hammered by Iowa. I have no answer for how poorly they have been playing. I do know one thing. Doc Rivers has a losing record since taking over the team, and it's a horrible record. Not even close to being able to make a run at a playoff spot.

This whole thing has gone sour.

Rivers needs to go, they never should have hired him in the first place, his track record wasn't good to begin with. Let Ham take over for the remainder of the season, and aggressively try to reshape the roster. The teams biggest mistake, however, was trading away Jrue, in favor of Lillard. Disappointing for the fans that the team has started out 1-5, with 4 losses by double digits.

 

[Half Empty]

Rivers needs to go, they never should have hired him in the first place, his track record wasn't good to begin with. Let Ham take over for the remainder of the season, and aggressively try to reshape the roster. The teams biggest mistake, however, was trading away Jrue, in favor of Lillard. Disappointing for the fans that the team has started out 1-5, with 4 losses by double digits.

Some redemption for those who say it isn't always the professionals that know what's best. Several of the moves over the past couple of years were immediately questioned, often to the extreme, by posters here, and have proven to be correct.

 

[Pokerbrat2000]

I feel bad for Giannis. Never wanted to see him traded from the Bucks, but at this point, let him have the chance to win some more Championships and trade him away to rebuild a team that has been so poorly managed in the last few years.

I also have to apologize to Bud....damnit Bud, you WEREN'T the problem with this team at all!

I watched the first game of the season against the 76'ers. Gave me hope. Haven't had the time or desire to watch a game since. I may not tune into another Bucks game until ........

 

[Voyageur]

I think it's time to deal Giannis to Oklahoma City, because they'd give us a raft of guaranteed early picks, and a couple of players to boot. Maybe grab Hartenstein as one of the players, since it's doubtful Lopez will be around after this year ends.

Then I'd deal Lillard as well, for a combo of picks and a player or two, who have youth and potential.

Before that, I'd fire Rivers, and bring Terry Stotts in to see what he can do, and find out if he could right the ship enough to make a playoff run.

Then, I'd also be peddling Middleton, and Portis, and probably Connaughton as well. Why? It's time to start from scratch, with a youth movement.

 

[Pokerbrat2000]

I honestly don't follow the NBA draft very closely, because the Bucks usually don't have a decent pick. Are draft picks, if out of the top 14 (lottery), as coveted in the NBA as they are in the NFL? Just the little I follow, it seems like a crap shoot when it comes to draft picks panning out in the NBA. So what I guess I am getting at is this. Is it better to build a team through the draft or through trades/free agency?

While I would hate to see Giannis leave Milwaukee, the Bucks don't have a lot of other assets to improve this team with. If I am reading the charts right (confusing) they have ZERO draft picks until 2032. How does an organization allow that to happen, no draft picks for 8 years? Besides maybe Lillard and Middleton, very little to trade with. I don't even think either of those players are going to bring the Bucks much.

What I would absolutely hate to see the Bucks do is trade Giannis for a few broken down "old stars" and draft picks that end up being non-lottery picks. If that happens, it may not take the Bucks long to return to the team they were before Giannis and maybe worse, since they have no draft picks. The only teams that will profit in the draft from the Bucks always missing the playoffs, will be all the teams holding the Bucks draft picks.

The more I think about the Bucks future, the more depressing it is. Part of me says keep Giannis, purge Lillard and Middleton for whatever you can get and then in 2025 go after a few decent free agents.

 

[MJS]

I watched the game against Cleveland last night at the same time as I watched the Badgers get hammered by Iowa. I have no answer for how poorly they have been playing. I do know one thing. Doc Rivers has a losing record since taking over the team, and it's a horrible record. Not even close to being able to make a run at a playoff spot.

This whole thing has gone sour.

I agree, and I hate to be negative, but Rivers hasn't added anything positive to the Bucks since joining. Not sure what the management was thinking, but they pushed Mike out, didn't give Griffin a chance, dumping him after 43 games, then they bring in Doc and he's done nothing. 1-5 at this point and no light at the end of this tunnel.

 

[Pokerbrat2000]

On a positive note, the Bucks aren't the worst team in the NBA right now, the Jazz haven't won a game yet (0-6). So the Bucks are only the 29th worst team. Hardly anywhere to go from here than up!

 

[weeds]

I agree, and I hate to be negative, but Rivers hasn't added anything positive to the Bucks since joining. Not sure what the management was thinking, but they pushed Mike out, didn't give Griffin a chance, dumping him after 43 games, then they bring in Doc and he's done nothing. 1-5 at this point and no light at the end of this tunnel.

Wasn't there some pushing from the players? Or was that speculation? Griffin won on
offense only....that probably had everything to do with Lillard acquisition but, I'm still nutz over the Holliday trade.

 

[Voyageur]

Wasn't there some pushing from the players? Or was that speculation? Griffin won on
offense only....that probably had everything to do with Lillard acquisition but, I'm still nutz over the Holliday trade.

When they traded Holiday for Lillard, I was in awe. Why would you give up the glue that kept them together on offense and defense, for a guy whose game is purely offense, and streaky at best.

That trade destroyed this team. That's why I said they need to clean house, from the front office on down.