Pelica Debrief
Fansided

Know Your New Orleans Pelicans Opponents: Milwaukee Bucks Q&A

By Matt Cianfrone

facebooktwitterreddit

As we head towards the start of the 2015-16 season, New Orleans Pelicans fans are mostly concerned with the way the Pelicans are adjusting to a new system. While that is the most important question for the Pelicans right now, there are also 29 other teams in the NBA with questions and the answers to some will directly impact the Pelicans. With that in mind we decided to go around the league and do Q&A sessions with a blogger for each team in the league. Today we continue on in the Central Division with a look at one of the other young up-and-coming teams in the league, the Milwaukee Bucks. Joining us to talk Bucks is Adam McGee editor of Fansided’s Behind the Buck Pass, the Milwaukee Bucks blog. Adam talks an emerging rivalry, the fit of New Orleans native Greg Monroe and more.

1. Giannis Antetokounmpo blogged this summer about how Anthony Davis trashed talked him during the duel the two had last season in Milwaukee. Is there a better potential player rivalry out there than AD vs. Giannis?

Adam: It would be hard to find one better. With every passing year the potential for a long-standing rivalry between those two players has improved, as Giannis has continued to bulk up and even grow in height. This summer has been no exception either, and should fuel that fire even further considering “The Greek Freak” appears to be significantly stronger than he was when Milwaukee exited the playoffs last year.

At present, Davis is playing at a level far above what Antetokounmpo is currently capable of, but with time that gap could narrow. Both players are young, athletic and challenging matchups, yet they are better prepared to guard each other than most others in the league. Over the summer there has been plenty of speculation about Giannis spending some time at center, and as he continues to play bigger, exciting matchups with AD are going to be inevitable.

2. The Bucks and Pelicans were very similar in terms of having good three-point percentages but not taking a ton per game last year. New Orleans has made an emphasis on changing that this offseason, what about Milwaukee, or will it be much of the same?

Adam: The Bucks have certainly worked towards bringing in players capable of making, and also willing to take deep shots this summer, but that doesn’t guarantee a shift in style is going to carry over on to the court.

Players like Greivis Vasquez and Chris Copeland were added in large part due to their proven shooting range, while Rashad Vaughn was drafted on the promise of him being able to not only spot-up, but create his own shots also.

Through their first two preseason games, the Bucks have only made eight three-pointers, but even more concerning is their low attempts total of 27. In comparison their opponents have combined for 25 three-point makes on 69 attempts. The NBA has become a three-point league, and if teams like Milwaukee and New Orleans don’t show a willingness to shoot with greater regularity they risk getting left behind.

More from Pelicans News

3. Pelicans fans dreamed during last preseason and the early season that Khris Middleton could find his way to the Bayou. How happy are you he stayed in Milwaukee and how important is he to the franchise?

Adam: Middleton was adamant that he couldn’t see himself playing anywhere other than in Milwaukee, and thankfully, the organization shared the same sentiment, tying him up to a five-year $70 million contract almost as soon as free agency opened.

Middleton is the type of player who epitomizes the skills needed to thrive in the modern NBA. He is long, efficient, a stellar defender and a lights out three-point shooter. That’s the sort of player that won’t necessarily bring you to new heights alone, but accompanied by other talented players, they can help to push a team over the edge.

Now, it’s all about just how good can Middleton become. As it is, he’ll be a high quality NBA starter for years to come, but can he become a first or second option on offense? It’s not necessarily in his personality, nor is it something he wants, but Middleton’s ability may well force him into a bigger role.

4. Plenty of Pelicans fans were also clamoring for Greg Monroe this off-season. How does he fit in Milwaukee?

Adam: That remains to be seen right now. What we do know is that Monroe will offer the Bucks something very different. Zaza Pachulia was a colossus for Milwaukee last season, and his passing in particular played an important role in the Bucks offensive looks.

Monroe shouldn’t have any problem replicating Pachulia’s contribution as a passer, and he’ll do so while offering a major upgrade in other areas. Monroe is an excellent rebounder, but most important of all is the fact that he offers the Bucks a genuine low post threat, something they didn’t have last season.

The question mark with Monroe lies on the defensive end of the floor. The Bucks were famed for their stifling defensive switching last season, and with Monroe not necessarily known for his work in that regard, there are concerns in some quarters that those problems could disrupt Milwaukee’s identity as a whole.

5. What are the expectations for the Bucks this year? What would you consider a successful year?

Adam: It’s hard to manage expectations after a turnaround as incredible as the one executed by the Bucks last year. Yet the Bucks still have a clear timetable in mind, and for this team it’s still all about continuing to build towards a title over the next couple of years.

Saying that, the organization’s rebrand is trying to establish the fact that this is a new era for Bucks basketball, and so in many ways expectations have to rise naturally as a result. A successful year would be improvement, first and foremost, and that has to be priority. Better than .500 and pushing for home court would be concrete progress.

If everything clicks this team does have the potential to take things a step further though. There’s a lot of uncertainty throughout the Eastern Conference this season, and if an opportunity presents itself Milwaukee needs to seize it. Is a 50 win season probable? Certainly not. The fact that it’s not impossible says a lot about how far this franchise has come though.

Next: Yesterday We Talked Chicago Bulls With HP's Rich Kraetsch

More from Pelican Debrief

Home/Pelicans News