Time to preview the 2010 Milwaukee Bucks
Music to listen to: Jungle Love by the Steve Miller Band
Last season/offseason changes: The Bucks are on an upward trend which has been outside of the norm for the franchise in previous seasons. They finished the year 46-36 and took the Atlanta Hawks to seven games in the first round of the playoffs before bowing out.
The Bucks are returning many of the key contributors from last year and added Corey Maggette and Drew Gooded to the squad. They aren’t conference changers but are proven veterans that can fill pivotal roles for the team.
Strength: The Bucks have the ability to play inside and outside because of point guard Brandon Jennings and center Andrew Bogut.
Jennings went through the typical inconsistency of a rookie point guard last season. He started last year well by showing surprising shooting ability, ball handling and even notched a 55 point game. Than the rest of the league started to figure him out and he struggled but ended the year well. He spent one year in Europe after high school and his maturity was questioned coming into the NBA but Jennings showed a skill set that can make him one of the top point guards in the league in the future, especially with his speed.
Before Bogut suffered his season-ending broken arm during the Bucks push towards the playoffs, he was having a break-out season, especially on the defensive end. I enjoyed seeing him develop his toughness and it spreading throughout the team. The team became reflection of him and really of the city of Milwaukee.
What we know about the Bucks is that you’re going to get a top defensive effort from the unit and they have a variety of scorers to distribute the scoring responsibilities.
Weakness: Outside shooting. The leg injuries to Michael Redd have truly hindered the Bucks from being a playoff team in the East to a potential conference power.
Redd may be out for the entire season and the Bucks are going to have to rely on Maggette to be the team’s top outside shooter. I have concerns about not only his inconsistent jump shot but his transition from playing in open offenses with the Clippers and Golden State Warriors to the structured Bucks.
I can already see a lot of angry looks from head coach Scott Skiles with Maggette’s shot selection.
The hope is that Redd’s role will be filled in for well once again by John Salmons and Maggette won’t have to be relied on too much on offense.
Most important player: Its Bogut because if he can reach a level of about 20 points, 12 rebounds and about four assists, the Bucks can be the fourth-best team in the East, easily. If he doesn’t do that, Milwaukee will probably still make the playoffs but won’t last long.
Celebrity crush from the city: I’m taking Joyful Drake.
Coaching: I thought Scott Skiles would have been fired by now from the Bucks. His style would seem to be overbearing for a professional franchise and he already was released from the Bulls because of his personality.
However, he has done a very good job with the Bucks in implementing a defensive system that hides many of the flaws the team has. Milwaukee had the second-best defense in the NBA last season. The trade-off for that is an offensive system that leaves much to the imagination and lacks creativity.
The Bucks will be in many 90-85 contests this season. Last year, they were able to win many of those. This year, I’m not so sure.
First memory of team: I remember when Glenn Robinson was drafted by the Bucks and signed his lucrative rookie contract that served as a major impetus for the current rookie salary cap that you see in the NBA today. He was a good player but nothing to write home about.
Best case: Fourth place in the East and a first-round playoff win.
Worst case: Barely making the playoffs and getting swept by Miami, Orlando or Boston.
Uniform grade: I like the green main color but they need to retire the alternate red jerseys. Those are terrible. Grade: C
Overall outlook: I’ve been bullish on the Bucks despite what you have read above. I like Jennings and Bogut very much. However, I don’t trust Maggette and his importance to the success of the Bucks.
While I will Fear the Deer, I don’t think it will be one of the top teams in the East.
Those are my thoughts, what about yours?
2010 Backdoor Cut Previews:
Atlantic Division
Central Division
The Sports Inquirer 
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