2011-12 Milwaukee Bucks Predictions
Written by Steve Janus
The Milwaukee Bucks will look to rebound from a disappointing 2010-11 season. The Bucks were believed to be primed to make a big push in the Eastern Conference after finishing 46-36 the previous season, but ended up going just 35-57. They finished two-games behind the Pacers for the eighth and final spot in the Eastern Conference playoffs. The Bucks played great defensively last year, but simply didn’t have the scoring necessary to consistently win games.
In order to get the offense going in the right direction, Milwaukee traded away Corey Maggette and John Salmons for the rights to Steven Jackson and Beno Udrih. They also went out and signed Mike Dunleavy Jr.
Jackson has the biggest upside of the three to really help Milwaukee get more out of their offense. Jackson averaged 18.5 ppg with the Bobcats last season. Udrih averaged a career-best 13.7 ppg last year with Sacramento, while Dunleavy put in 11.2 ppg in 61 games with the Pacers.
From the looks of things Jackson will start at small forward, Dunleavy will open up as the starter at small guard, while Udrih backs up Brandon Jennings at point. Jennings and center Andrew Bogut are both coming off injury plagued season. Jennings was expected to really come on strong after averaging 15.5 points as a rookie during the 2009-10 season, but ended up scoring just 16.2 ppg. Bogut’s scoring actually dropped from 15.9 ppg to just 12.8 as he battle elbow problems all season. If Milwaukee is going to get back in the thick of things in the East, both Bogut and Jennings have to play better.
Veteran Drew Gooden is expected to start at power forward, who I believe is better off as a reserve than a starter at this point in this career. Gooden averaged 11.3 and 6.8 rebounds last year, well below his 2009-10 numbers of 14.8 points and 9.4 boards.
Depth is my biggest concern for the Bucks at this point. Udrih and Carlos Delfino are the only two legit options off the bench at the guard position. Ersan Ilyasova and rookie Tobias Harris figure to see plenty of action playing behind Gooden, but they lack depth at both center and small forward. I think this team needs to go out and add another option at the 2-guard, which would allow Dunleavy to come off the bench and play more at his natural small forward position.
Prediction – 3rd in the Eastern Conference Central Division: The Bucks will continue to play hard defensively under head coach Scott Skiles, but there are still huge question marks surrounding the offense. Jackson and Jennings have the ability to put up big numbers, but both take way too many ill-advised shots. The key to the Bucks getting back to winning will be the play of Bogut inside. If the elbow problems continue to limit him offensively, I have a hard time seeing this team getting back to the playoffs. I give them little to no chance of competing with the Bulls for the top spot in the division. I also think they are a step behind Indiana in the Central, who I believe have a much more talented and deeper roster. Not to say the Bucks can’t surprise this season, but a lot is going to have to go right for that to happen.
Find out where we have all 30 NBA teams finishing in our 2011-12 NBA Predictions article.
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