I am a long-time suffering bucks fan. Watching them get rid of Ray Allen and a first round draft pick last year for essentially nothing was bad enough. But for them to finish off any hope of competing this year they trade away Sam I am, and allow Gary Payton to leave without making him a serious offer (I hear he actually wanted to stay), I have to say I am disgusted with the way the team is heading. Not to mention the fact that they will have a first year coach this year (can you say setting yourself up for failure) is not making me very optimistic either. I guess a better question would be will they average over 75 ppg this year. Sound off.
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting BucksFan-InPain:</div><div class="quote_post">I am a long-time suffering bucks fan. Watching them get rid of Ray Allen and a first round draft pick last year for essentially nothing was bad enough. But for them to finish off any hope of competing this year they trade away Sam I am, and allow Gary Payton to leave without making him a serious offer (I hear he actually wanted to stay), I have to say I am disgusted with the way the team is heading. Not to mention the fact that they will have a first year coach this year (can you say setting yourself up for failure) is not making me very optimistic either. I guess a better question would be will they average over 75 ppg this year. Sound off.</div> I feel your pain. The Bucks might be the franchise who has had the worst this offseason. Over the past two years they have traded away the Big-Dog, traded away Ray Allen for Gary Payton, who eventuially left the team. They then trade away Sam Cassell for Joe Smith. This franchise has in essence pissed away any hopes they had about becoming a good team in the east. Their once good talent is gone. They might end this season with one of the worst records in the league.Do I think they will win 20 games? Nope
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting dexter:</div><div class="quote_post">I feel your pain. The Bucks might be the franchise who has had the worst this offseason. Over the past two years they have traded away the Big-Dog, traded away Ray Allen for Gary Payton, who eventuially left the team. They then trade away Sam Cassell for Joe Smith. This franchise has in essence pissed away any hopes they had about becoming a good team in the east. Their once good talent is gone. They might end this season with one of the worst records in the league.</div> Herb Kohle doesn't want to pay the luxury tax. That was the whole reason that Joe Smith for Sam Cassell trade happened. The Bucks saved a little over a million dollars from that trade, enough for them to sign TJ Ford and remain under the L.T. The choice was to keep Cassell, and not sign TJ, or sign TJ, and trade Cassell for something. They choose the latter, as they are starting to rebuild. All is not lost however, as they still have Redd and Mason, both are talented wing players. Will the Bucks win 20? Probably. This is the East. Redd/Mason/Thomas is a decent trio. If Ford has a good rookie campaign, it could happen.
Well, they do still have some talent. They do have Tim Thomas, who, is a very underrated small forward, they got the PG of the future for them in TJ Ford. They also have good role players in Toni Kukoc and some other players. So, they might not be all that horrible. Might win 30, who knows.
Oh yea, I forgot about Micheal Redd and Desmond Mason. So yea, they will be descent. The scoring trio of Redd/Mason/Thomas might be underrated next year but it should be good. Plus, throw in TJ Ford in there and Kukoc, not too bad actually.
I understand the that the Bucks do have some talent in Mason, Redd and Thomas (and Ford), but the problem is that they all essentially play the same position - well maybe not TT, but Redd and Mas do. Thomas has shown flashes of greatness, but he's still one of the biggest underachievers I have ever seen. The guy has limitless potential (great range, ideal SF body) but just lacks the desire and work ethic to bring it to the floor night in/night out.
Vintage I totally hear you on this however, im at loss as to how the Bucks couldnt have gotten someone better than Joe Smith in the deal in which they sent Cassell packing. Granted, I havent looked at who they could have gotten/trade possibilities but I just think they could have done better.
Bare in mind..bucks barely made this playoffs this year with payton and cassell..they lost both..meaning losing 40 odd points from their offemce....so i see no more than 25 wins...
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting dexter:</div><div class="quote_post">Vintage I totally hear you on this however, im at loss as to how the Bucks couldnt have gotten someone better than Joe Smith in the deal in which they sent Cassell packing. Granted, I havent looked at who they could have gotten/trade possibilities but I just think they could have done better.</div> Well, bare in mind where they are the weakest at....... And thats at the PF spot(they had Hinrich or Ford pegged at 8). Can you find a team willing to trade a PF that makes less than Cassell's salary but on the same talent level? You cant, unless its someone on a rookie scale. And if they are on the same talent level, why would a team trade big for small, young for old. They had to find a team that needed a PG, someone with a decent PF to trade for, a trade that would save them money, and do it fast. My guess is that only Minnesota answered the call.
I dont think theyre going to get that much worse. the young guys will have to step up. TJ ford i think will become better than cassell was. Mason is gonna be some kind of player. and u never know maybe Joe Smith will suddenly break out. he was the number one pick he must have SOME talent. theyll win 20 games. its not unfathomable that they will make the playoffs. this is the east
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting allnet:</div><div class="quote_post">Bare in mind..bucks barely made this playoffs this year with payton and cassell..they lost both..meaning losing 40 odd points from their offemce....so i see no more than 25 wins...</div> the magic just barely made the playoffs. the bucks wernt even the bottom seed. they won more games against the nets than the pistons and celtics combined
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting olskoolFunktitude:</div><div class="quote_post">I dont think theyre going to get that much worse. the young guys will have to step up. TJ ford i think will become better than cassell was. Mason is gonna be some kind of player. and u never know maybe Joe Smith will suddenly break out. he was the number one pick he must have SOME talent. theyll win 20 games. its not unfathomable that they will make the playoffs. this is the east</div> i agree that Joe Smith could have a breakout season. They still have Michael Redd and DMase and both look to have another good year. So they wont be bad but they probably wont make the playoffs
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting olskoolFunktitude:</div><div class="quote_post">and u never know maybe Joe Smith will suddenly break out. he was the number one pick he must have SOME talent.</div> He better do something.. i like Joe Smith alot and he can definately play hes just an under achiever, u never know this could be his time now with the bucks..
Hopefully my man Dan Gadzuric will have a break out season as well. He started pretty ok as a rookie last season, but then he hit the rookie wall (named George Karl). He clearly enjoyed running with TJ Ford during the Summer League, so that?s a good thing. And what about Marcus Haislip? He had some pretty good Summer League games as well. They may not have any superstars anymore, but enough quality to build a decent team. To me, it's pretty hard to figure out what their starting 5 will be. Will they get 20 wins? No doubt about it in my mind.
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting olskoolFunktitude:</div><div class="quote_post">the magic just barely made the playoffs. the bucks wernt even the bottom seed. they won more games against the nets than the pistons and celtics combined</div> bucks did barely make the playoffs it came down to the last few games of the season..and the last game of the season where they would finish..7th or 8th..
bucks tied the magic in record, but won the overall season series, so they got the 7th seed, while we got the 8th seed. they are getting a very young and athletic core with d mase, tj ford, tim thomas, micheal redd, and marcus haislip. i doubt they won't get 20 wins in the east, but i don't think they will win 30 yet. they will be good in the future. watch out for d mase, he might be an all-star this year.
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting olskoolFunktitude:</div><div class="quote_post">the magic just barely made the playoffs. the bucks wernt even the bottom seed. they won more games against the nets than the pistons and celtics combined</div> think of it like that...they worked really hard in the playoffs...without their coach George Karl, Sam Cassel, and Gary Payton, they'll have to work as hard as they did in the playoffs to get a spot in the playoffs...I don't think it would be impossible, but it will be a challenge for them. I think that Mason/Redd/Thomas will have to step up and create a good balance in the team...
bucks well with the team they have they will b lucky to even win one game but the thing they have going for them is that they are in the eastern confrence... takin that into account the bucks may reach the 20 win platu, but i can honestly say if they were in the west they could kiss the double figure wins target goodbye!
