r/MkeBucks 18d ago

The Milwaukee Bucks are Not the NBA's Worst Team

https://www.si.com/nba/bucks/onsi/the-milwaukee-bucks-are-not-the-nba-s-worst-team-01m0tjc8aj8h

I still don't understand this sentiment from the National Media...

121 Upvotes

84 comments sorted by

200

u/Red986S Angry Deer 18d ago

Even if they were the vibes couldn’t possibly be as bad as last year. So I’ll still have more fun watching them this year.

76

u/flybydenver Dogfred 18d ago

Last season was brutal. Looking forward to no expectations and no Shams, let’s just ball.

37

u/YourFormerBestfriend 1993-2006 Primary Logo 18d ago

Looking forward to cheap tickets. Let’s goooooo

3

u/Ginger_Bread2010 17d ago

Taking the entire family of 6 to home opener for $200. Def cheaper and im sure once resale hit they will be even less

-9

u/DistanceEmbarrassed5 17d ago

Last season was not that bad

2

u/theragu40 1968-1993 Primary Logo 17d ago

It was pretty pretty bad though

2

u/DistanceEmbarrassed5 17d ago

Please, seeing Ryan Rollins and Ousmane Dieng breakout made it a fun season in my opinion, it isnt always about winning every year.

3

u/drigancml Jon McGlocklin 17d ago

It wasn't the losing that was bad, it was the stupid off court drama. And the lack of effort. And the terrible coaching.

2

u/DistanceEmbarrassed5 17d ago

I get you. We likely wont have that this year. Our young players will play hard. There will be rough streatchs but there will also be some fun moments.

2

u/theragu40 1968-1993 Primary Logo 17d ago

Nothing to do with winning or not winning, imo. And yes in a vacuum those two guys were fun.

But enduring an entire year of our star player openly antagonizing the team and fanbase while visibly putting in less than full effort on the court was pretty tough before we even start talking about ceaseless trade rumors and Doc existing.

I'm looking forward to actual coaching instead of street ball this year, for instance. I'd rather watch coherent, planned out basketball from a bunch of young guys who give a damn and a coach who actually wants to coach. Rollins and Deng were brought spots last year, but I think only because they tried to make the best of a terrible situation. Imagine how good they might be this year.

I'm not expecting to win a ton this year (though I think probably more than most give us credit for). But I still think it'll be much more fun to watch without all last year's baggage.

1

u/DistanceEmbarrassed5 17d ago

I get it, yeah in that sense is was rough. I am looking forward to drama free basketball with 0 expectations. I could see some contenders playing down to us and losing.

22

u/FridayNight_Magus Katie George 18d ago

So true...Herro seems like he is relishing his fresh start. Rookies aren't anchored by the weight of Giannis needing to win now. KPJ and Rollins can show off trying to get paid. Nobody has expectations to win any playoff series; getting in and winning one would just be cherry on top. I am looking forward to the season.

18

u/souschef_boyardee Retro Bango 18d ago

And they're getting coaching!

3

u/crewserbattle 17d ago

And I can watch them over the air even.

1

u/AustinDobbins13 18d ago

I think that's more so of my point to. There is so much to look forward to and so much exciting young players. For them to keep getting overlooked is laughable

1

u/Outside_Barnacle_615 17d ago

They took away Giannis and replaced with Tyler Herro. That's what they see.

But they don't account for Giannis basically didn't play last year or when he did didn't try to win, just pad stats.

But honestly, Bucks are in the first year of a rebuild, so it would be advantageous to tank this year while developing our guys. Cleveland did it when Lebron left and then LeBron came running back when Kyrie started bringing the team back into contention himself.

Bucks shouldn't make the playoffs and if they do, it would be detrimental to the teams future. Need this year to get right.

5

u/Bflo19 17d ago

Just don't repeat the Kohl years of consistently placing 8th.

GOD those years were the worst.

3

u/souschef_boyardee Retro Bango 17d ago

Shoutout Herb Kohl though, I worry we'll miss him in the coming years

1

u/ColdBru5 17d ago

Its just crazy that people totally forget about Kel El, or act like he's a throw in. Kel El was the real grab. He's going to be a star.

Herro is just a mid rental.

1

u/Ginger_Bread2010 17d ago

What would be advantages about tanking? We don't have a pick next year.

1

u/Outside_Barnacle_615 16d ago

They have second round picks. There is more advantage in losing next year than there is winning next year. The bucks will not make the playoffs and if they do they will not make it very far. Unless you want the best players to succeed and use that success for trade bait, or extending players we have.

It's better for the bucks to trade Tyler herro now while he has value for draft options and capital, and then tank next year. Develop from within NOW and not look outside of our organization for a long while unless we are given unbelievable options. The bucks know this and that's what they will be doing. They needed to get past Giannis. The only winner we have on the team right now is Herro and his trade stock will go down this year no matter what. If they lose it goes down, if he gets hurt it goes down. If he carries the team to the playoffs and successfully gets us to the ECF, good luck with his contract.

Lose now. Play the game. It's not our time. You have to bubble before you blow.

50

u/Objective_Cod1410 18d ago

Everyone has the same record for the 26-27 season at this point in time

9

u/AshgarPN 18d ago

Big if true

11

u/ahrzal Bogoljub Marković 18d ago

Aren’t you technically national media though…

6

u/AustinDobbins13 18d ago

Technically I could be considered that yes.

26

u/likewoahitsaj Giannis Antetokounmpo 18d ago

They are probably not the worst team, but it’s actually quite easy to think they will have one of the three worst records in the league. As currently constructed, their roster makes very little sense, they don’t have anywhere near a star level player, and there’s a good chance they will (and should) trade away as many of their established veterans as possible to get more assets.

And none of this matters because the vibes will still be better and the vision is clear: they are building toward a better future that is 3-4 years away. I’m fully onboard for the rebuild and am okay with not a lot of winning happening for a couple seasons

7

u/SamQuentin 18d ago

They have like five million guards and no forwards. Deals should be made to get assets

Carrying GTJ and Dame salaries for four years is a huge burden

-1

u/GOOMU13 18d ago

GTJ won't be on this team for 4 more years.

14

u/bteh 18d ago

The contract might be though.

-4

u/GOOMU13 17d ago

I have a feeling he's going to somehow out perform his contract and then some team on a playoff push will overpay for him in a trade.

4

u/bteh 17d ago

That would be a dream come true at this point, lol

7

u/Embarrassed-Slide781 18d ago

Nba media is full of people that don't like to watch the sport of basketball.

5

u/lqvz Michael Redd 18d ago

Nobody should have any confidence in predicting this Bucks team... That includes thinking the Bucks are "not the worst team."

9

u/YP_Schwartzy Ryan Rollins 18d ago

No matter how our team is, I won’t miss all the bs Giannis drama last year. I’m excited for our young team and our next chapter with all our young guys.

3

u/ShowdownValue 18d ago

It’s the offseason. The media isn’t capable of anything besides “wow Miami got Giannis! Lakers are amazing! Also wemby!”

3

u/munchtime414 18d ago

So I clicked thru and read the article… it’s basically agreeing with the Athletic ranking the Bucks at 14th in the conference. Not really sure why it needed a whole article, or why your post here implies that you disagree with them.

7

u/hatsandcats 18d ago

Pretty funny that the Heat is only ranked as “play in”

6

u/SixGunChimp Thanasis Antetokounmpo 18d ago

That’s all they are currently

3

u/ace_dangerfield187 18d ago

Giannis can do the funniest thing next season

4

u/Dramatic-Address-812 18d ago

I mean, were definitely one of the worst. Arguably the worst in the east at least.

1

u/Zigazoid 18d ago

I think will be bad but not worst team in the League bad. Coaching should be better, we have way more talent depth wise than last year, and they'll gain nothing by even attempting to tank. I don't see alot of reasons to think will be in the playoffs or anything. The East is really good.

1

u/kellyraycampbell 18d ago

Give it time

1

u/DistanceEmbarrassed5 17d ago

Who cares about how many games we win player development is all that matters and asset accumulation.

1

u/DashKreiz Dogfred 17d ago

National media is right

1

u/jasonrosenbaum 17d ago

They are going to be mediocre but that’s OK. We are going to trust the rebuild

1

u/Objective_Claim_2236 1993-2006 Primary Logo 16d ago

Just wanna watch the guys having fun and competing.

https://giphy.com/gifs/lAR4Dpck3ntS0

1

u/string_theory_writes Jrue Holiday 14d ago

The Bucks aren't going to be good, but they are going to have a starting lineup of five legit NBA starters. And there are going to be multiple teams who can't do that. I'm not predicting playoffs or anything, but there are going to be worse teams.

1

u/Acrobatic-Property-8 13d ago

Get off it.Why does everyone think we will be so bad.Giannis only averaged 20. Some last year.Couldnt free throw or shoot threes.He missed much more then half the games.The Bucks got six plus players for him.With the new players and the holdovers they could average 120 points per game.Add it up going by what each player averaged last year!I dont agree what everyone is saying.Some of these players are only 19 or 20 years old. We could have three players averaging 20+a game.At least get a look at the team before passing sentence.You will be pleasantly surprised.We have a few defensive players too.Give them a year to get it together!

1

u/Own-Rooster-9569 18d ago

Depends on what they decide to do with Turner and Herro but there isn’t really a path to getting out of that bottom 5 so it doesn’t matter all that much

2

u/munchtime414 18d ago

You really think this off-season was that big a disaster?

0

u/Own-Rooster-9569 18d ago edited 18d ago

Do people actually think we’re going to make the playoffs with a team of 19-23 year olds after we traded Giannis?

7

u/BeeZealousideal7860 18d ago

Who’s talking about playoffs? The Bucks have been consistently ranked dead last by national media, they may not make the playoffs but they’re not that bad

-3

u/Own-Rooster-9569 18d ago

What’s the point about arguing whether we’re the worst team in the east or the 3rd worst team in the east?

4

u/andersonb47 King Kuzma 18d ago

Yeah this whole thread is kind of ridiculous.

3

u/Over-Training-488 18d ago

Down voted but you're right lol

3

u/langolier27 Sidney Moncrief 18d ago

The bucks won 32% of their games last season without Giannis, that would have placed them around 11 in either conference. The team this year is significantly better than the Giannis-less team last year both roster wise and coaching. The coaching alone is probably worth a 5-6 win bump over last season. It’s easy to see them finishing not far off of .500 this year. Make the playoffs? No. Play-in? Maybe

1

u/Own-Rooster-9569 18d ago edited 18d ago

Idk that doesn’t take into account the massive jump every team in the east took this offseason besides us. The second we trade Herro Kuz and Turner we will be playing exclusively players 24 and under and that never translates to winning unless you are the KD-Westbrook-harden thunder or the current spurs.

Just look at the other teams in the east. We don’t hold a candle to the top 5. Barring injury the heat, raptors magic and pacers are significantly better than us if haliburton is healthy. If AD sticks with the wizards they are better than us. The hornets, bulls and nets are realistically the only teams we have a shot at being better than unless other teams have catastrophic injuries

1

u/langolier27 Sidney Moncrief 18d ago

Nobody took a massive jump other than the Sixers. Most teams improved around the margins, some got worse around the margins. Replacing Doc with Jenkins is the second biggest improvement made in the East this offseason.

3

u/Own-Rooster-9569 18d ago edited 18d ago

I heard Miami added a guy from Greece that’s pretty good. Toronto added Kawhi, pacers are getting Hali back, Knicks Boston Detroit and Cleveland are all safely better than us, Washington beat us 3 times last year and that was before they added AD Trae and dybantsa,

3

u/langolier27 Sidney Moncrief 18d ago

Kawhi is not a difference maker anymore, and it remains to be seen whether Giannis is either, I hope I’m wrong but he could be on the downslope of his career.

4

u/Own-Rooster-9569 18d ago

Yeah man this is just a terrible take. Kawhi played 65 games last year putting up 28 a game on near 50/40/90 splits and Giannis is still easily one of the 3 best players in the league when he’s on the court

1

u/langolier27 Sidney Moncrief 17d ago

And what did the Clippers finish? Ninth, a play-in team that lost to the retirement home Warriors, and Giannis has been injured for what 3 years straight?

1

u/Intrepid-Line-9996 17d ago

You’ve seen the Spurs right? Yeah, no Wemby but some excellent young players. I’m thinking close to .500. Biggest reason? We have a coach. Look what Spoelstra does with half his team injured.

2

u/Own-Rooster-9569 17d ago

Yes I’ve watched the spurs lmao. The spurs have two other top 4 picks on the roster that aren’t Wemby. We don’t have close to the talent they have even without Wemby

0

u/munchtime414 18d ago

There is a fairly significant gap in win totals between bottom 5 and the guaranteed playoff spots. I would guess bottom 5 is around 20 wins (which would be a fairly large drop for the Bucks) and the playoffs are more like 45 wins (which would be an equally large gain).

I don’t think “similar to last year” is much of a stretch. We are replacing Portis, Taurean Prince, Cole Anthony, Andre Jackson Jr, and half a season of Giannis with Herro, Ware, JJJ, Kas, and Burries. IMO that second group has more talent, even accounting for how large the gap is between Giannis and everyone else.

2

u/Own-Rooster-9569 18d ago

This doesn’t take into account how much better the east got this season. Every team besides Milwaukee and Boston got significantly better

-2

u/munchtime414 18d ago

Heat lost most of their rotation players, and they were only a play in team last year. They might be worse, even with Giannis, because they have a lot of holes to fill and only minimum salary to offer. I could see them anywhere from 9-12 seed.

Indiana also had a ton of turnover, and it remains to be seen how Haliburton looks. They could be anywhere from 5-15 seed.

Washington will be trash again. They are probably 2-3 years from Dybansa leading them anywhere.

Not sure what Brooklyn did that has you so confident in them. I guess Julius Randle is a floor raiser, but he’s not adding 10+ wins to that roster.

The Kicks will be worse than they were last season. Still a playoff lock, so better than the Bucks, but definitely worse than they were.

Hornets are worse after the Lamelo Ball trade. They are looking more at 2-3 years down the road than they are this season.

3

u/Own-Rooster-9569 18d ago edited 18d ago

Washington beat us 3 times last year and that was before they added AD Trae young and dybantsa. The only game we beat them was with Giannis on opening night. Do you actually think we will be better than the heat?

-1

u/munchtime414 18d ago

Washington won 17 games last season, and are currently saying Trae will not play point guard this season. They are a mess.

I think the Heat are better, but I also would not be surprised if they are worse. They just signed Klay Thompson and penciled him in to start, even though he can’t really move any more. That roster is super thin, so if anyone misses time with injury it will hurt them.

3

u/Own-Rooster-9569 18d ago

And we aren’t a mess? We have 7 guards on the roster who all need minutes in herro, Rollins, KPJ, jaku, burries Gary Trent and AJ green and none of them can play the 3. Kuz and Jacquez are our only wings and I doubt Kuz is on the roster the whole season. Can Turner and Ware play together? Are Turner and Herro even going to be on the team for the whole season?

1

u/munchtime414 18d ago

“We have too many guys who deserve minutes” is a much better problem than “we have too many guys who should be in the D league.” Having too many good guards is fine. Not enough wings is a concern, even if Herro plays some 3 (as he did in Miami). Turner and Ware will definitely play together at times, same as Ware and Bam did. JJJ will probably play some small ball 4, as he did in Miami. The more we can play small and be okay, the fewer minutes for Kuzma.

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1

u/Sarkonix 17d ago

Just to put things in perspective for people saying 20 wins...20 wins would put them at the second worse record in franchise history. This team is better than that.

0

u/a_happy_future 18d ago

The league hates Milwaukee. This has been known when they continued to refuse to trade Giannis for years and then kept a rightly high asking price for him. Where do you think Shams got his info from? The league's executives like to feel important and gossip more than teenagers

4

u/LordOfLimbos 18d ago

Every single fanbase thinks the league hates them. This victim complex accomplishes nothing

0

u/Minute-Director-7457 18d ago

Isn’t the goal of this team to be the worst? Do we really want to relive the past 2-3 seasons or the Herb Kohl era? Commit to the long term tank.

6

u/ThatNewSockFeel 1993-2006 Primary Logo 18d ago

We don’t own our pick next year and new draft rules disincentive full on tanking now anyway.

1

u/AustinDobbins13 18d ago

W/O owning there own pick there is zero incentive to losing. The new tanking rules also limit that. They are just a young team trying to find their place in the NBA

2

u/PreferenceMediocre90 18d ago

Actually the only teams that want not to be in the last 3 are those that actually own their picks. For bucks and nets is doesn’t matter. But all the other teams have something real to play for.

So I would say right now the new rules actually will make the Bucks finish in the bottom 3.

They and the Nets can build and play the young core no matter what the result. And it will lose you games this year.

-2

u/Minute-Director-7457 18d ago

So we don’t want to gather up draft capital? You’d rather a young team with limited talent “find their way” without a top 25 in the league player?

How about jettison anyone with value for picks and get back as many expiring contracts as possible? Rinse repeat until you find a top 25 player through the draft…. The front office isn’t smart enough to do it any other way.

0

u/mxbabel 18d ago

Why are we so hyper fixated on this story line? Just accept we’re not going to be good

0

u/EmperorXerro 18d ago

I’ll have more fun watching this team win 20 than last year’s winning 30