Michael Redd is still the go-to guy in Milwaukee.
As excited as all of us were in June when we found out our Milwaukee Bucks were going to select Utah's Andrew Bogut (sarcasm), we couldn't help but think. Jack Sikma? Frank Brickowski? Brad Lohaus? Larry Krystkowiak. Sorry, this list could be a paragraph in itself. WE DON'T NEED ANOTHER SLOW, GANGLY WHITE BOY!
I can say I saw enough of Bogut in the past couple years while at Utah. He completely dismantled my Sooners in the NCAA Tournament last Spring doing everything besides making the pregame dinner for his team. He could score, pass amazingly well, defend and run the floor. What more can you ask for? Well, for one...how about North Carolina freshman Marvin Williams? Talk about talent. The sky's the limit for that guy. I did realize we didn't need somebody like Williams. The Bucks had good shooting guards and small forwards. I just felt we needed somebody with a stronger presence than Bogut's.
I have been proven otherwise. I'll admit it; I was wrong. Is Bogut the only reason why the Bucks have started the season 4-1? Not so much. Trading for All-Star Jamal Magloire has helped immensely. Signing Bobby Simmons has been helpful. How about the return from a career-threatening spinal injury by T.J. Ford? He was named Eastern Conference player of the week last week.
As I've mentioned above, Bogut has been much more effective than I would ever have imagined, but adding Magloire was huge. Some teams have an inside presence, but only one. For example, the 76ers and Chris Webber. One very good inside presence can be stopped (other than Shaq), but not two. You can't leave to double team because the other will score.
Mo Williams celebrates after hitting the game-winning 3 to beat the Pacers Saturday night. The Bucks overcame a 14-point fourth quarter deficit.
Do I feel the Bucks can make it to the Eastern Conference finals this year? Not quite. But I do see a win in the playoffs and the Bucks growing off that next year. I haven't been this optimistic about the Bucks since the Vin Baker/Glenn Robinson years. Thinking about those years make me think this years team is twice as good as that team was. Two words: Depth and defense.
2 comments:
You know the packers are stinking it up when you write a column about the Bucks.
Kim...if you were to read my journal more often you'd realize I've already written an article on how awful the Packers have been this year. Figure it out.
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