The Milwaukee Bucks are a decent team, but they could be much better. I have been following them for about 10 years and have had to sit and watch them suffer in the realms of mediocrity. For far too long they have been hindered by bad drafts, free-agent busts, and bad coaching. I have season tickets and after watching them for the past few games, I realized that they are closer to returning to sucess then they have been since Ray Allen, Sam Cassell, and Glen Robinson played together.
The first step is to make sure they do not lose any of the future talent they have put in place. The Bucks have some good players that can grow together and end up being stars in this league. The biggest piece is Ramon Sessions. The second year guard out of Nevada is really coming into his own and will prove to be a great point guard. I was recently at a game of his where he scored 44 and did it quite efficently, he is also a great distributor of the ball. Another player that I feel needs to remain in Milwaukee is Charlie Villanueva. He has worked on his game immensely and has improved dramtically since he got here, he is still young and will only get better and more consistant. Tonight in the Bucks win over the Denver Nuggets (2nd in the tough Western Conference) he scored 36 points and was 7-11 from the 3-point line.
I also believe that the Bucks need to trade away two of their key players. The first to go has to be Michael Redd. As good of a player that he is, he demands the ball and the offense almost always runs through him. Since his injury, the team has been a much better offense and it is more fluid. Another player who needs to go is former number 1 pick Andrew Bogut. He is a decent big man in the NBA but he does not fit with the Bucks. Watching him the past couple of seasons, he is lazy and content on his skill level, that is a cancer to the team. On top of that he has missed significant time over the past 2 seasons and is an injury risk. Both of these players will have decent trade value once they get healthy and without them and their huge contracts, the Bucks will be much better of a TEAM.
If the Bucks can shed the contracts of one or both of the two previously named players, they can become a competitor in the free agent market this and next off-season. Dwyane Wade, Chris Bosh, Amare Stoudemire, Paul Pierce, Ray Allen, Tyson Chandler, Manu Ginobili, Joe Johnson, Tracy McGrady, Yao Ming, Steve Nash, and Dirk Nowitzki are all free agents come the summer of 2010 along with Lebron James, but they might not be the solution. If I was general manager, I would work this upcoming off-season as most teams sit back and try to wait out another year for the big names in 2010. My first move would be (after releasing/trading Andrew Bogut) to sign Rasheed Wallace. He is a tough big man with a great outside shot and most importantly, becomes a free agent after the season. Since the Pistons are going through trying times, I do not think that perfectionist Joe Dumars will want the same team back next year and would not be suprised if the Pistons even offer him a deal. He is a great value whatever team he is on and can replace the scoring that will be gone with the departure of Michael Redd. My other move would be to sign shooting guard Eddie House as he becomes a free agent this year. He is a winner and a tough defensive player, as well as a deadly accurate 3 point shooter. His veteran swagger and knowledge would help the Bucks tremendously.
Sunday, February 22, 2009
Sunday, February 8, 2009
Great Sunday for the NBA
Today is Sunday, Feburary 8th, 2009 and it is an awesome day. I will not be leaving my couch today except to answer the door for the pizza delivery guy and it will not be considered a wasted day. The reason that I'm excited is the NBA action going on today. The games will be highlighted by the marquee match-up of Lebron James vs. Kobe Bryant.
The first game of the day is defending champion Boston Celtics vs. the perennial powerhouse San Antonio Spurs. This is my least anticipated game but as I am sitting here watching it I have been pleasently suprised. the Celtics are without a doubt one of the best teams in the leauge, and the aging Spurs are desperately trying to stay in the same conversation of the premiere teams. The Boston Celtics are at an interesting point in the season. On Christmas day the Lakers beat them and snapped a 19 game winning streak, the reprocussions included dropping 7 of their next 10. They recovered and went on a 12 game winning streak only to have it snapped two days ago by the same Los Angeles Lakers. This game they can make a statement and quiet the critics, or they can do what they did last time they met the Lakers and freefall for a bit before regaining their swagger.
The nightcap is the Pistons vs. the Phoenix Suns. This game does not garner too much national attention, but it has me pretty excited. I am a native of Detroit, Michigan and bleed Piston blue and red. The Pistons have pretty much been a dissapointment this season but I still ove them. I was at their game sitting courtside for the Pistons overtime win against the Milwaukee Bucks last night. Hopefully they can build on the momentum and get a much needed win here. As much of a dissapointment as the Pistons have been thee Suns are a bit worse. High expections of a new coach and veteran talent paved the way for the high critique they have endured. There most prominent star Amare Stoudemire is upset and trade rumors have been swirling, one of the possible destinations is none other then the ready to rebuild Detroit Pistons.
The best game and sandwiched at the 2:30 p.m. timeslot is the Los Angeles Lakers vs. the Cleveland Cavaliers. Storylines abound in this game and none is greater than the Kobe v. Lebron debate. Great debate and heated arguement has arose between Lebron or Kobe being the best player and one way to settle it is head to head battle. The Lakers and Cavs have the two best records in the NBA and the outcome of the game will provide a possible tie-breaker if they meet in the NBA Finals. All said and done today will be an awesome day for basketball fans everywhere.
My Picks : Celtics, Lakers, Pistons
The first game of the day is defending champion Boston Celtics vs. the perennial powerhouse San Antonio Spurs. This is my least anticipated game but as I am sitting here watching it I have been pleasently suprised. the Celtics are without a doubt one of the best teams in the leauge, and the aging Spurs are desperately trying to stay in the same conversation of the premiere teams. The Boston Celtics are at an interesting point in the season. On Christmas day the Lakers beat them and snapped a 19 game winning streak, the reprocussions included dropping 7 of their next 10. They recovered and went on a 12 game winning streak only to have it snapped two days ago by the same Los Angeles Lakers. This game they can make a statement and quiet the critics, or they can do what they did last time they met the Lakers and freefall for a bit before regaining their swagger.
The nightcap is the Pistons vs. the Phoenix Suns. This game does not garner too much national attention, but it has me pretty excited. I am a native of Detroit, Michigan and bleed Piston blue and red. The Pistons have pretty much been a dissapointment this season but I still ove them. I was at their game sitting courtside for the Pistons overtime win against the Milwaukee Bucks last night. Hopefully they can build on the momentum and get a much needed win here. As much of a dissapointment as the Pistons have been thee Suns are a bit worse. High expections of a new coach and veteran talent paved the way for the high critique they have endured. There most prominent star Amare Stoudemire is upset and trade rumors have been swirling, one of the possible destinations is none other then the ready to rebuild Detroit Pistons.
The best game and sandwiched at the 2:30 p.m. timeslot is the Los Angeles Lakers vs. the Cleveland Cavaliers. Storylines abound in this game and none is greater than the Kobe v. Lebron debate. Great debate and heated arguement has arose between Lebron or Kobe being the best player and one way to settle it is head to head battle. The Lakers and Cavs have the two best records in the NBA and the outcome of the game will provide a possible tie-breaker if they meet in the NBA Finals. All said and done today will be an awesome day for basketball fans everywhere.
My Picks : Celtics, Lakers, Pistons
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