I don’t recall seeing too many videos like this of Elliot Perry, Terrell Brandon, Haywoode Workman, Sam Cassell, Damon Jones or Mo Williams. T.J. Ford probably has some of these floating around somewhere though. But still, it’s fun to see a member of the Milwaukee Bucks hobnobbing on the court with other terrific young players and shining in highlights. (Hat tip to Talkhoops.net) And wouldn’t it be fun next season if we saw less of the Jennings floater shot attempts and more of Jennings floating up lobs like he’s done these past two summers?
Larry Sanders, the challenge awaits you. Earn minutes and dunk lobs. Thanks.
Scoring was rarely easy for the Milwaukee Bucks last season. Long droughts were the norm, zones were horror movie scary and the rim was a foreign place they rarely explored. The long ball was often the weapon of choice though it wasn’t always reliable. In the end, it worked often enough to keep the Bucks in games and let their defense do the rest. But Milwaukee did little to boost their outside game this off season, focusing mainly on fours while adding Chris Douglas-Roberts and Corey Maggette, two players not proficient from outside.
So are they in danger of losing their touch from outside and watching their scoring woes grow worse?
Not if they can figure out layups and dunks. The easiest shots in basketball. Penetration, offensive rebounds and dishing point guards can create these shots for big men in the NBA. Unfortunately for last season’s Bucks, finishing at the rim was easier said than done. Milwaukee was dead last in shooting percentage at the rim, finishing on just 56.3% of their attempts. So when the Bucks front office spoke at length these past few months about adding length and athleticism (see the Earl Boykins signing), they may as well had been saying they need some guys who can finish. Read more…
Regardless of who is discussing the moves the Bucks have made this past off-season, one thing they are sure to mention is the depth Milwaukee has added. At the conclusion of last season, the end of the Bucks bench featured an offensively challenged Royal Ivey, a coordinately challenged Primoz Brezec and Charlie Bell,who couldn’t even find a working alarm clock. While they were a group with some experience in the ways of the league, they certainly weren’t anyone’s idea of a great backup plan.
Now? The Bucks can look down to the end of the bench and see a mix of emerging talents and veterans. Keyon Dooling and Earl Boykins are steady, scoring point guards while Jon Brockman, Larry Sanders and Chris Douglas-Roberts are all looking to establish themselves in the league. And instead of one-year-contract retreads like Ivey and Brezec, Dooling and Brockman are sitting on multi-year deals with the Bucks. Even if they aren’t logging big minutes this season, they’re sure to at least collect a paycheck and have a home in the next couple years. At first glance, the backup situation is looking good in Milwaukee.
First glances have a way of deceiving though. They don’t quite tell the whole story. Read more…
The Bucks are near an agreement with veteran point guard Earl Boykins, a move which would complete Milwaukee’s point guard trio for the 2010-’11 season.
Yes, the one time commercial star and household favorite little man, Earl Boykins is apparently going to be suiting up for the Bucks again in 2010-11. Boykins previously played for Milwaukee in the 2006-07 season, arriving for the second half of the season in a deal which landed Steve Blake in Denver. Twice with Milwaukee Boykins scored 36 points, his career high and thrilled crowds with his scoring proficiency despite his diminutive stature.
The NBA’s second smallest player of all-time declined his player option for the 2007-08 season, apparently thinking a strong performance in Milwaukee had elevated his status enough that his $3 million option could be topped in a new deal.
Normally I try and avoid these unrealistic, complex and hackneyed hypotheticals. I find that living in the “what could be” prevents me from enjoying living in the “what is.”
In terms of the Bucks, the “what is” is shaping up to be a pretty enjoyable 2010-11 season. But what if it could be more. What if it could really be something special? What if one move could get Milwaukee that much closer to a spot in the Eastern Conference Finals or even, dare I say, a chance to compete with Miami?
I can’t help myself, so I’ll indulge this one time.
As a one season rental, isn’t there a pretty compelling case to be made for Carmelo Anthony to the Milwaukee Bucks?
Even when indulging in an exercise like this, I’m still somewhat grounded in reality, so I’m not saying Anthony could ever want to stay in Milwaukee for more than a season. Not when New York is flaunting its wears so prominently. Not when Chris Paul toys with the idea of joining ‘Melo there on their own super team. Free agency has never been Milwaukee’s game any way. But the trade market has often been good to the Bucks. Read more…
