Bucks believe they're ready to bounce back after two straight first-round NBA playoff exits
By The Associated Press
Posted 10/14/24
The Milwaukee Bucks are hoping more stability will help them bounce back after exiting in the first round of the playoffs each of the last two seasons. The Bucks are coming off a tumultuous 2023-24 …
You must be a member to read this story.
Join our family of readers for as little as $5 per month and support local, unbiased journalism.
Current print subscribers can create a free account by clicking here
Otherwise, follow the link below to join.
To Our Valued Readers –
Visitors to our website will be limited to five stories per month unless they opt to subscribe. The five stories do not include our exclusive content written by our journalists.
For $6.99, less than 20 cents a day, digital subscribers will receive unlimited access to YourValley.net, including exclusive content from our newsroom and access to our Daily Independent e-edition.
Our commitment to balanced, fair reporting and local coverage provides insight and perspective not found anywhere else.
Your financial commitment will help to preserve the kind of honest journalism produced by our reporters and editors. We trust you agree that independent journalism is an essential component of our democracy. Please click here to subscribe.
Need to set up your free e-Newspaper all-access account? click here.
Non-subscribers
Click here to see your options for becoming a subscriber.
Register to comment
Click here create a free account for posting comments.
Note that free accounts do not include access to premium content on this site.
I am anchor
Bucks believe they're ready to bounce back after two straight first-round NBA playoff exits
Milwaukee Bucks guard Damian Lillard, front, dribbles past Detroit Pistons guard Tim Hardaway Jr. during the first half of a preseason NBA basketball game, Sunday, Oct. 6, 2024, in Detroit. (AP Photo/Jose Juarez)
Posted
By The Associated Press
Milwaukee Bucks
Last season: 49-33, lost to Indiana in first round of playoffs.
COACH: Doc Rivers (2nd season with Bucks, 26th season overall, 1,896-1,114)
SEASON OPENER: Oct. 23 at Philadelphia
DEPARTURES: F Thanasis Antetokounmpo, G Malik Beasley, G Patrick Beverley, F Jae Crowder, F Danilo Gallinari
ADDITIONS: G AJ Johnson, F Taurean Prince, F Tyler Smith, G Gary Trent Jr., G Delon Wright
BetMGM championship odds: 14-1
What to expect
The Bucks once again have one of the league’s top trios in two-time MVP Giannis Antetokounmpo, seven-time all-NBA guard Damian Lillard and three-time All-Star Khris Middleton. The trick is keeping all of them healthy. Antetokounmpo didn’t play at all in Milwaukee's first-round playoff loss to Indiana last season and missed multiple games in Milwaukee’s 2023 first-round playoff exit. Middleton has played a combined 74 games over the last two regular seasons.
Milwaukee is hopeful that it will fare better this year now that it’s had more time to adapt to Lillard and Rivers. The Bucks acquired Lillard shortly before training camp last year. Rivers was working as an ABC broadcaster until he got hired in late January after the Bucks fired Adrian Griffin. The Bucks often lacked cohesiveness as they adjusted to so much change. That shouldn’t bea problem this season.
Strengths and weaknesses
The good: Antetokounmpo remains one of the league’s top two or three players. Lillard didn’t work out much while awaiting a trade in the summer of 2023 because he didn’t want to risk getting hurt. He will open this season in much better shape. Middleton says he’s feeling fine after undergoing offseason surgery on each of his ankles. Even as they struggled last season, the Bucks were dominant whenever Antetokounmpo, Lillard, Middleton and 7-footer Brook Lopez were on the floor together. They should have that combination on the floor more often this season.
The not-so-good: Depth remains a major issue. Given their salary-cap constraints, the Bucks did well in adding Prince, Trent and Wright as veteran free agents. But this remains a very top-heavy roster, so the Bucks can’t afford to have Antetokounmpo, Lillard, Middleton or Lopez miss significant time. The Bucks must replace Beasley, who made 77 starts with Milwaukee last season before signing with the Detroit Pistons. Age also is a major concern. Middleton is 33, Lillard 34 and Lopez 36.
Players to watch
Lillard was a seven-time all-NBA guard in 11 seasons with the Portland Trail Blazers, but he didn’t get a single all-NBA vote his first year in Milwaukee. The Bucks need him to regain that all-NBA form. Middleton has to stay healthy. The Bucks also must have Antetokounmpo continue playing like one of the best players on the planet. Off the bench, the Bucks would love to see Bobby Portis pick up where he left off last year, and they’d also benefit from a bounce-back season by Pat Connaughton.