Mandatory Credit: Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports
The Milwaukee Bucks were the best regular-season team for the second year in a row before bombing out of the playoffs. Here are five roster moves to make.
The Milwaukee Bucks finished the 2019-20 NBA season with the best record in the association. This is the second season in a row they have achieved this feat. Unfortunately for the Bucks, they did not make it out of the second round of the playoffs.
This is not good enough for a team built around back-to-back MVP Giannis Antetokounmpo and the sharp-shooting Khris Middleton. They have every position covered with quality to spare but they cannot make the Finals.
The Bucks were the early season dominant force before their game started to fall away when the team entered the NBA bubble for the restart. This fall back is a problem that appears to plague the franchise and needs to be addressed.
They led the NBA in pace last year thanks to the play of Antetokounmpo and Eric Bledsoe. Milwaukee is an athletic team that spaces the floor well which allows the two playmakers good room to exploit the opposition defense.
Defensively, the Bucks were the best in the NBA last season as well, having a rating of 102.5. They were again led by Antetokounmpo who was named the 2019-20 NBA Defensive Player of the Year to go along with all the other accolades he keeps collecting.
The Bucks were first in the NBA in points scored, 2-point field goal percentage, field goals made, defensive rebounds and total rebounds. It stands to reason they should make it deeper in the playoffs. However, as the pace of the game slows in the playoffs, the Bucks suffer.
They need to have a roster reshuffle so here are five roster moves they need to make this offseason.
Milwaukee Bucks</a> finished the 2019-20 NBA season with the best record in the association. This is the second season in a row they have achieved this feat. Unfortunately for the Bucks, they did not make it out of the second round of the playoffs.</p>
<p>This is not good enough for a team built around back-to-back MVP <a href=https://hoopshabit.com/2020/11/01/milwaukee-bucks-5-offseason-roster-moves-must-make/"https://www.basketball-reference.com/players/a/antetgi01.html?utm_campaign=Linker&utm_source=direct&utm_medium=linker-%22 target="_blank" rel="nofollow noopener" ref="nofollow">Giannis Antetokounmpo</a> and the sharp-shooting <a href=https://hoopshabit.com/2020/11/01/milwaukee-bucks-5-offseason-roster-moves-must-make/"https://www.basketball-reference.com/players/m/middlkh01.html" ref="nofollow">Khris Middleton</a>. They have every position covered with quality to spare but they cannot make the Finals.</p>
<p>The Bucks were the early season dominant force before their game started to fall away when the team entered the NBA bubble for the restart. This fall back is a problem that appears to plague the franchise and needs to be addressed.</p>
<p>They led the NBA in pace last year thanks to the play of Antetokounmpo and Eric Bledsoe. Milwaukee is an athletic team that spaces the floor well which allows the two playmakers good room to exploit the opposition defense.</p>
<p>Defensively, the Bucks were the best in the NBA last season as well, having a rating of 102.5. They were again led by Antetokounmpo who was named the 2019-20 NBA Defensive Player of the Year to go along with all the other accolades he keeps collecting.</p>
<p>The Bucks were first in the NBA in points scored, 2-point field goal percentage, field goals made, defensive rebounds and total rebounds. It stands to reason they should make it deeper in the playoffs. However, as the pace of the game slows in the playoffs, the Bucks suffer.</p>
<p>They need to have a roster reshuffle so here are five roster moves they need to make this offseason.</p>
<div class="next-slide slider"> <a class="next-slide-btn" style="background:#222423" data-track="shortcode" data-track-action="next-slide-shortcode" href=https://hoopshabit.com/2020/11/01/milwaukee-bucks-5-offseason-roster-moves-must-make/"#"> <span class="title">Next:</span> 1. Do not guarantee Ersan Ilyasova </a>
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<p>— NBA on ESPN (@ESPNNBA) <a href=https://hoopshabit.com/2020/11/01/milwaukee-bucks-5-offseason-roster-moves-must-make/"https://twitter.com/ESPNNBA/status/1189697554939883520?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%22>October 31, 2019</a></p></blockquote>
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<p>The Lopez brothers present a unique challenge to a lot of teams in today’s NBA. There are not many teams who can defend two 7’0″ centers for a full 48 minutes considering the league is moving away from post play. Add in the 6’11” Antetokounmpo and this team is a nightmare to match up against.</p>
<p>Assuming the Los Angeles Lakers make it back to the finals next year, having both Lopez brothers allows them to defend the likes of JaVale McGee, Dwight Howard and Anthony Davis. His player option is worth $5 million which is a solid number considering what he offers the franchise.</p>
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