Milwaukee Bucks Looking Improved Early On
By Dylan Hughes
Two games into the NBA season, the Milwaukee Bucks have shown plenty of promise among other things. What specifically have they shown us so far?
Jabari Parker is a MAN:
This shouldn’t come as a surprise to many that Jabari Parker has looked solid in his first two professional starts.
Milwaukee had a tough start to the season, facing the Charlotte Hornets on their brand new floor. With an exciting player now on board in Lance Stephenson, along with the whole rebranding deal, Time Warner Cable Arena was almost guaranteed to be packed. Still, the Bucks took the Hornets to overtime, where they would eventually fall.
In that game, Parker’s numbers didn’t reflect how well he played.
In 36 minutes, Parker recorded eight points (3-of-9 shooting) with four rebounds. For a second overall pick, you could criticize Parker’s numbers, but the numbers don’t always tell the whole story.
With rookies, you always have to look for certain things. Are they aggressive? Are they intimidated by the established pros? Are they comfortable? To answer all of those questions in six words: Parker didn’t look like a rookie.
Even though Parker will be “the guy” for Milwaukee in the future, there is still plenty of talent on the team, meaning lots of guys will be taking lots of shots. Brandon Knight took 17, O.J. Mayo took 10, and Khris Middleton took 15.
Parker ran the floor well, made good moves, didn’t take any bad shots, and to answer one of those above questions, looked comfortable. He didn’t look like a rookie making his NBA debut.
In Game 2, Parker stepped it up in the stat department just to make those stat guys happy.
Parker, against a fellow bottom of the barrel team from last season in the Philadelphia 76ers, recorded 11 points (5-of-11 shooting) with 10 rebounds. So yeah, Parker has already recorded a double-double.
Forgive me if I start drooling, because I am in awe over this kid. Saying he’s going to be star in this league is a major understatement.
Welcome back, O.J. Mayo:
After a down year under a coach he may not have actually liked in Larry Drew, Mayo is showing signs of life early on in this 2014-15 NBA season.
Mayo closed out the preseason very strong and has carried that momentum into the regular season. In Game 1 vs. Charlotte, Mayo had 17 points (6-of-10 overall, 3-of-6 from three) in 24 minutes off the bench. Against Philly, Mayo led the team with 25 points (8-of-13, 5-of-7 from deep) along with five assists in 28 minutes off the bench.
Not only does Mayo look slimmer this season, but he looks much more confident. Mayo knows he can shoot, and you can tell that just by watching him. In fact, Mayo shot a transition 3 against the Hornets from the top of the break just to see how hot he really was after hitting a few consecutive shots.
I have a feeling that was just one of many heat checks he will have this season.
While watching the Sixers game, I actually shouted out loud “He’s so good!” after May sized up a Philly defender before splashing another 3. Mayo pulls up with confidence and that’s the best thing a shooter can do. Watch out for Mayo to be mentioned as a Sixth Man of the Year candidate throughout the season.
Brandon Knight can score AND facilitate:
I was a fan of starting Kendall Marshall at point guard and moving Knight to shooting guard in the starting lineup to utilize Knight’s scoring abilities to the fullest, but he has shown he can do both early on.
Knight’s incredible first game had him scoring 22 points with 13 assists and even brought down eight rebounds. In the second game, Knight scored 13 points with eight assists and seven rebounds. So wait, he can rebound, too?
Even with the big numbers, Knight has shot pretty poorly with a combined 7-of-25 (28 percent) in two games. While that’s a concern that needs to be dealt with, the scoring and assist numbers can’t be overlooked.
Giannis Antetokounmpo is playing well off the bench:
As I have pointed out, Giannis Antetokounmpo didn’t prove he was worthy of starting in the preseason. Jason Kidd agreed, bringing him off the bench. Antetokounmpo has kept his head up, however, averaging nine points (50 percent shooting) and 5.5 rebounds in about 24.5 minutes per night in two games.
I’ll try not to be too negative as the Bucks have looked good thus far, but there is one thing.
Shocking probably everyone, Kidd decided to start Jared Dudley at shooting guard. I wasn’t even sure Dudley would see the floor much this season, but all of the sudden Kidd felt he deserved to start.
Dudley hasn’t made much of an offensive contribution, scoring a combined seven points in two games. But hey, at least he’s shooting 60 percent (3-of-5)!
It’s fair to say the Bucks will finish this season with more than 15 wins. Competing with a projected high playoff seed in Charlotte and topping a bad Sixers team by double digits is a good way to start off the season.
Now, Milwaukee has Washington, Indiana, and Chicago on the upcoming schedule, teams in which they could truly make a big statement against.