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- Evan Dyal
2018-2019 Off the Glass Team Preview Series: Milwaukee Bucks
Sports Betting Dime
The 2018-2019 NBA season starts October 16th and to get you ready for tip-off, Off the Glass is previewing all 30 teams. Today we look at the Milwaukee Bucks.
2017-2018 Record:
44-38, 3rd in Central Division. Lost 4-3 in the first round to Boston Celtics.
Season Recap:
The Bucks’ season consisted of many ups and downs. Giannis Antetokounmpo cemented himself as one of the best players in the league and Kris Middleton emerged as the perfect sidekick. But Milwaukee lost second-year point guard Malcolm Brogdon and former number two overall pick Jabari Parker for half of the year due to injury. And in the case of Parker his play was not great when he returned.
Head coach Jason Kidd was fired at the midway point. His defense was not working, players were not responding, and the team was underachieving. The Bucks acquired point guard Eric Bledsoe early in the season and, like the team that acquired him, his season was up and down. The Bucks also got Tyler Zeller at the deadline and he was average at best. Overall it was a slightly disappointing season, but Milwaukee showed it can play with anybody in the playoffs by taking the superior Celtics to seven games.
Key Losses:
Jabari Parker, F
Key Additions:
Brook Lopez, C; Ersan Ilyasova, F; Pat Connaughton, SG; Donte DiVincenzo, SG
Player to Watch:
Thon Maker, C
Preview:
Defensively Milwaukee should be better; Budenholzer will simplify the scheme and a full season of Brogdon will also help. Expect Giannis to have an MVP caliber season and take his game to another level and Middleton to possibly get his first all-star birth. The question marks are Bledsoe underperforming and Maker not improving. Still, this is a team and on the rise that can win 50 games and be as high as the fourth seed in the East.
Worst Case Scenario:
Giannis gets hurt and is out for the season and the Bucks miss the playoffs.
Best Case Scenario:
Giannis is the MVP and the Bucks climb to the three seed in the East, win in the first round and then upset a superior team in the second round to make it to the Conference Finals.
2018-2019 Prediction:
50-32, Second in the Central Division, fifth in the East.