Last season for the Milwaukee Bucks was filled with lots of disappointing nights and led to their worst season in a decade. The Bucks finished with a record of 28-54.
The bad record was due in large part to injuries to key players like Michael Redd, Mo Williams, Bobby Simmons, Andrew Bogut and Charlie Villanueva. Those five players combined for a total of 180 games missed with Simmons lead the way with missing all 82 games.
An offseason filled with some changes may put the Bucks back on the right track to success in 2007-‘08. Their first line of business was to bring back point guard Mo Williams and they did that by matching an eight year, 51 million dollar offer from Miami to retain his services. Williams scored 17.3 ppg and had 6.1 apg last season for the Bucks.
Also, the re-signing of Charlie Bell was also a big moment in the off season for the Bucks.
After saying he wanted out of Milwaukee, Bell decided to return after the Bucks matched an offer from once again the Miami Heat. Bell contributed to the Bucks with 13.5 ppg and 3.0 apg.
The only losses in the offseason were Ruben Patterson and Earl Boykins. With those guys going, the Bucks made sure they found a player that could fill the void, and that is former Bucks forward Desmond Mason.
After two years away from Milwaukee the Bucks resigned him through free agency in the offseason. Mason brings 13.7 ppg and 4.6 rpg back to the team. He also possesses great energy that can help the Bucks on the defensive side of the ball that can use all the help it can get.
The Bucks also acquired small acquisitions such as Royal Ivey, Samaki Walker, Michael Ruffin and Jake Voskuhl. It remains to be seen if all five will make the opening day roster as of right now.
You might think I have forgot somebody, but I didn’t forget about first round choice Yi Jianlian. In June, the Bucks drafted him sixth overall in the draft; it was stated by his agent that he was not going to sign with the Bucks.
Yi’s agent and the Chinese government thought that a move to Milwaukee would hurt his development and to the financial benefits that it could bring to China. They felt that Milwaukee didn’t have a great enough Chinese culture here, so they wanted him to play in a big market like Chicago or Los Angeles.
After months of persuading the big man, and going to China to watch him play, the Bucks finally got him and the Chinese government convinced on why Milwaukee is going to be a perfect fit for him.
***The Five keys to a successful season for the Bucks***
1. **Stay Healthy:** Hope Bobby Simmons and Villaneuva can play in the majority of the games and hope star shooting guard Redd doesn’t miss a considerable amount of time.
2. **Improve defensively:** The Bucks need to focus on more on the defensive side of the ball, because defensive teams win championships. They allowed there opponents to shoot 48 percent last season and allowed 104 ppg. If they allow that to happen again it will be a long season.
3. **Rebound the Basketball:** The Bucks did not get enough out of Bogut in this category and they need him, Villanueva, and Yi to step up and lead the way in that category.
4. **Stay Patient with Yi:** This is a whole new level of basketball for him so it will take him to time to adjust to the size and speed of the game. Once he does that, he has the ability to extend the defense with his good out side shooting.
5. **A Consistent starting five:** Any great team has a group of five guys that can play good team basketball like passing and playing good solid defensive. If your 5 starters can stay healthy it will build chemistry and that will allow this team to make all the smart decisions when out there together.
It’s hard to say right now how good this team will be due in large part to all the injuries and the new faces on the team this year. It can be a good year, but they must excel in at least three of the five categories if they want any shot at making the playoffs. All we can do now as fans is sit back and see what this team will accomplish in the 2007-08 season.
