What Do The Milwaukee Bucks Need To Improve Next Nba Season?

The Milwaukee Bucks has had another stellar run this past NBA season, managing to force a Game 7 versus the Boston Celtics before eventually losing. One can argue that it’s but the homecourt advantage of the Celtics that led to the Bucks’ failure to reach the second round.

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However, the East is going to get more competitive by next season as Kyrie Irving and Gordon Hayward return from injury. It could even signal the shift of power to the Celtics from the Cavs (who are themselves almost guaranteed to lose LeBron James in the offseason). If this fledgling Boston squad can get to the Conference Finals, what more next season?

Milwaukee needs to find more ways to channel its offense. Over-relying on Giannis Antetokounmpo has made its offense very predictable. If the team just maintains the status quo of having aging Jason Terry and Matthew Dellavedova in the backcourt, it stands to again lose ground as competing teams get better.

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The Bucks should likewise find a way to have somebody else aside from Eric Bledsoe man the offense. Malcolm Brogdon must get much better in playmaking. Also, and most importantly, the team should look for any workable trade that would bring another superstar to the team, preferably a solid shooting guard or forward. The Bucks may begin with entertaining suitors for Jabari Parker.

Hi, there! Sandy Petrocelli here, a 21-year-old college student taking up business marketing. I’m from Wisconsin, but I’m into Milwaukee’s sports teams. More of my writings here.

Bucks Watch: How Is Milwaukee Doing Three Quarters Into The Season?

Right now, the Milwaukee Bucks are the seventh-seed in the NBA’s Eastern Conference with a 34-29 record. This is coming off a series of close-game losses to the Pelicans, Wizards, and Pacers and a blowout in their home court courtesy of the Pistons.

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It is certainly a source of dismay for fans, especially given that the team is close to going down to below .500 with less than two months left in the season. If this anemic play is not resolved soon, Milwaukee is in danger of losing its playoff berth. Also, with Wade’s emotional return to the Miami lineup, the high might get the Heat to overtake the Bucks soon.

But there are welcome developments, especially as we write this. The team just signed former Minnesota player Shabazz Muhammad in the hope of addressing its shorthanded guard play. More importantly, Giannis and company just had a convincing come-from-behind road win over Philadelphia, the team just one game ahead of them in the standings.

This should be a great morale boost for the ailing Bucks, especially since the 76ers have been playing well lately with its vaunted tandem of Simmons and Embiid. If Muhammad can get himself integrated into the offense soon, the team will have another offensive option. The Bucks sorely need more outside shooting to complement Giannis’ one-on-one plays which often stagnates the offense and get the Milwaukee attack predictable.

It’s about time for that final push to the playoffs, and Milwaukee’s signing of another guard is surely a manifestation of the Bucks management’s commitment to aiming high this season.

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21-year-old Wisconsin student Sandy Petrocelli is finishing a degree in business marketing. He is a big fan of the Milwaukee Bucks. For more Bucks news and insights, check out this page.

Abdul-Jabbar And Robertson: Remembering The Bucks' Dynamic Duo

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Expansion teams in the NBA typically and understandably lose a lot of games during their first years in the league. The Milwaukee Bucks were an exception, though, because the timing of their entry into the association was fortunate.

The franchise was established in 1968 and lost 56 of their 82 games during their first season, which was tied for last among all teams. This allowed them to earn a coin flip against the Phoenix Suns to see who would be given the first overall pick in the 1969 rookie draft, which the Bucks won and used on Lew Alcindor.

Arguably the best center in NBA history immediately turned Milwaukee into a powerhouse with his exceptional scoring prowess and stingy defense. In a complete reversal, the team won 56 games and reached the second round of the playoffs, where they lost to eventual champions New York Knicks.

During the offseason, the Bucks got another gift in the name of Mr. Triple Double, Oscar Robertson. He had just lit the league during the previous ten years, pioneering the all-around game and blazing a trail for the likes of Magic Johnson, Jason Kidd, Russell Westbrook, and LeBron James.

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But The Big O had never reached the later stages of any playoffs in his career before then. But after teaming up with Alcindor to create one of the best inside-outside duos ever, Milwaukee won the franchise’s only championship in 1971. It was also this year when Alcindor would convert to Islam and change his name to Kareem Abdul-Jabbar.

Unfortunately, Robertson was already at the twilight of his career then, which led to the decline of his production on the court. Combined with injuries, the Bucks never won another title. The Abdul-Jabbar and Robertson partnership lasted for just five seasons, but it is enough to establish the legacy of the dynamic duo.

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What The Future Holds For The Bucks

The Milwaukee Bucks have been enjoying their best NBA seasons the past couple of years. Surely a big leap from the team’s perennial bottom-dweller status that fans have lamented for the better part of the 2000s.

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For the second consecutive year, Milwaukee is expected to reach the playoffs and are, as of this writing, toting a 29-23 record. This is good enough to keep the team in fifth place in the Eastern Conference standings, just a few games behind the Wizards and the Cavaliers.

But the better news is that the Bucks should get even better next season. Sure, it’s easy to feel good about the Bucks’ playoffs chances now, with the Lebron-led Cleveland team struggling, but Boston has come out to be the new team to beat. The Bucks’ previous-year tormentors the Raptors are also showing stellar play recently.

The argument for a better Bucks in the 2018-19 season is mainly bolstered by the return of Jabari Parker. The top prospect tore his ACL during his rookie season in December 2014, much to the dismay of devoted Bucks fans. But he is officially back to complement Giannis’ game, in his return scoring 12 points on 4-of-7 shooting with three rebounds.

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Going back to the Cavs, the single most impactful development that would make the Bucks a dominant Eastern team is the imminent departure of Lebron for a Western Conference team. If James indeed moves to the West, it will tilt the balance of power in the NBA and allow more Eastern franchises to rise. By then Giannis would be in his prime and Parker would have completely re-adjusted to the game.

Hi, I’mSandy Petrocelli, a business marketing student from Wisconsin. For more Bucks updates and insights, follow me on Twitter.