Almost Hunting Season

We are just 20 days away from the Milwaukee Bucks 2005 exhibition season opener. So, since many "experts" picked this team to win 20 games last season, and before the tremendous offseason they had this year, I thought I'd take a look at our 2005-2006 Milwaukee Bucks.

Losses:

Erik Strickland
Zaza Pachulia
Marcus Fizer
Calvin Booth


Additions:

Bobby Simmons
Andrew Bogut
Charlie Bell
Jiri Welsch
Earvin Johnson
Ersan Ilyasova

Ok, so losing Calvin Booth and Marcus Fizer has no impact on this team what so ever, and while losing a promising young player like Zaza Pachulia is discouraging, let's not forget we've got Andrew Bogut patrolling the paint now, so Zaza really had no place on this team.

Erik Strickland's loss will be a bigger impact than expected on the surface. Strickland did a great job working with youngsters like TJ Ford, and he and Mike James did the same for Mo Williams. He was a great insurance policy to have, he could play both guard positions and a little small forward. Besides that, the guy was the "dorm mircrowave," you know not quite as big as a household version, but put him in when you need to heat it up. Instant offense.

Two additions not mentioned, that I would classify in that category are resigning Michael Redd, and bringing back Toni Kukoc for at least one more season. Let's face it, Redd carried this team last year, and they needed him back, but this year he won't be the only offensive option. Kukoc will do a great job mentoring young Andrew Bogut, a player he models his game after as is.

So what does this leave us with as far as rotations? Keep in mind, this is very early, but basing this off of nothing other than following this team and the NBA since I was 12 here's how I break it down.

Starters

Andrew Bogut
Joe Smith
Bobby Simmons
Michael Redd
TJ Ford

Top Reserves

Gadzuric
Kukoc
Mason
Welsch
Williams

Insurance

Charlie Bell
Earvin Johnson

Not quite sure if Ilyasova will be on the squad or play overseas yet. Speaking of which, what ever happened to Symon Siezchweck? The second round pick in 2003, he was a highly touted Polish player, much like Ilyasova and played overseas the last few years.

I didnt' mention Reece Gaines because I'm really not sure where he stands with this team. He won't play ahead of Jiri Weslch, Mo Williams, TJ Ford, Des Mason, Michael Redd, or Bobby Simmons, and I really think Charlie Bell will be thier new find, much like Damon Jones in 2003.

What I like:

This team can throw so many different fronts at opposting defenses. They can play small ball much like Phoenix had success doing last year, with TJ at the point and Mason, Redd and Simmons on the wings and Bogut manning the middle.

They can go with the conventional lineup like I listed above, they can play a bigger lineup when playing teams with good post play (Any combo Gadzuric, Bogut, Smith, Kukoc, Simmons, Johnson) and they have a lot of depth.

Redd, Mason, Johnson, Gadzuric, and Kukoc all have familiarity with Terry Stotts. This is encouraging because Redd will be the focal point of you offense, Mason is your sixth man, Johnson and Gadzuric will be relied on heavily not only for thier play (in the case of Gadzuric more so than Earvin) but also the help Bogut along, and Kukoc will be relied on to be the "coach on the floor."

What I don't like:

TJ Ford. Is he healthy enough yet? Can he do everything yet? Don't interperet that opening the wrong way, I love TJ and all of the things he brings to this team, when he's there they run on all cylinders and are much harder to defend and much better defensively. The problem is I was certain he would never play again six months ago, now you're telling me not only will he, but he'll be ready come Octocber? I hope so, but we'll see.

The Bucks have drastically improved this offseason, but are still hindered by the fact that their division features Detroit, Indiana, an improving Chicago team and an up and coming Cleveland team. Believe me when I tell you that the Central Division may prove to be the toughest in all of basketball.