Milwaukee Bucks: How injuries have shaped their roster

The Milwaukee Bucks have had a difficult time with injury, here is how it has shaped their current roster.

Some years, talent is the biggest deciding factor of where a team finishes. Other years injuries are the biggest factor in where a team finishes. For the Milwaukee Bucks, it is certainly the latter that is responsible for their middle-of-the-pack record.

The Bucks are comfortably ahead of Eastern Conference’s non-playoff teams in the eighth seed. They are five games ahead of the Detroit Pistons in ninth. However, they are also only 3.5 games outside the 3-seed, currently held by the Indiana Pacers.

To be where they are with the injuries they have had is simply amazing. Jabari Parker has only been back since February. Mirza Teletovic has not played a game since November. Both Matthew Dellavedova and Malcolm Brogdon have missed significant time with their respective injuries.

The Bucks have managed to weather most of these injures to stay competitive, but it has certainly gone a long way to shaping their current roster.

The frontcourt

With two members of the frontcourt down through injury for most of the season, the Bucks have been playing shorthanded. This was especially the case after the Greg Monroe trade where they moved the big man for a point guard.

John Henson and Thon Maker did decent work when their number was called but they have been exposed at times. The addition of Tyler Zeller has been crucial for the success of the team. His 15.8 minutes, 4.4 rebounds and 5.7 points per game compare well to Teletovic’s numbers.

Now with Teletovic being waived, which is something that may have been in the cards for a while, it is easy to see why the Bucks wanted and needed another big man this season.

The point guard

The point guard position has been a problem for the Milwaukee Bucks for a number of years. Dellavedova was signed after the Cleveland Cavaliers won their title in an effort to have a solid defensive ball-handler.

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Brogdon was a second round pick who played so well offensively he became the Bucks’ starting point guard and last season’s Rookie of the Year.

Unfortunately, Dellavedova has missed two chucks of the season through injury. Brogdon has also missed a large portion of the season with a torn quad.

This has left the Eric Bledsoe as the only specialist point guard on the team. Bledsoe is a quality player, but cannot carry the burden alone. This has meant Brandon Jennings has been signed to a 10-day contract.

When Dellavedova and Brogdon return, there is a possibility they will be on minute restrictions. This may mean Jennings gets signed to a rest-of-season contract, which will hopefully will benefit the Bucks.

The road less travelled

To get to their current roster, the Bucks have taken the road no one likes to travel. However, they have rolled with every punch the long 82-game season has thrown at them.

It might be considered surprising they are still in the playoff hunt — surprising until you look at the play of Giannis Antetokounmpo, Bledsoe and Khris Middleton.

Next: 2018 NBA Draft - Early March Mock Draft

Now that the team is looking more settled, look for the Milwaukee Bucks to make a push for a high seed. Hopefully all the injuries and their resulting moves will benefit the team come playoff time.