Hoops Habit
Fansided

Milwaukee Bucks: Why their 3 new veteran players matter

By Thomas J. Brown

NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA - FEBRUARY 04: Jrue Holiday #11 of the New Orleans Pelicans shoots against Khris Middleton #22 of the Milwaukee Bucks during the first half at the Smoothie King Center on February 04, 2020 in New Orleans, Louisiana. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Jonathan Bachman/Getty Images)
NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA - FEBRUARY 04: Jrue Holiday #11 of the New Orleans Pelicans shoots against Khris Middleton #22 of the Milwaukee Bucks during the first half at the Smoothie King Center on February 04, 2020 in New Orleans, Louisiana. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Jonathan Bachman/Getty Images) /
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Milwaukee Bucks
Milwaukee Bucks (Jeff Hanisch-USA TODAY Sports) /

Jrue Holiday is a point guard upgrade for the Milwaukee Bucks

Whenever a team fails to live up to the expectations of it’s fan base, there seems to be one player who receives the bulk of the criticism. When the 2004 Los Angeles Lakers were upset four games to one by the Detroit Pistons, many members of the media pointed to aging starting point guard Gary Payton as the reason the team under-performed. They were clearly ignoring the fact that the Pistons had a historically great defense and all of their starters were still in their 20s.

Meanwhile the Lakers were an aging team; Kobe Bryant was the only member of the Lakers’ core who was still in his physical prime. Add to that the fact that Karl Malone’s injuries caused him to play limited minutes that and you have all the necessary ingredients for an upset. Fair or unfair there’s always a scapegoat when a good team doesn’t win.

Eric Bledsoe is the departed scapegoat for the Milwaukee Bucks

Enter Eric Bledsoe. Starting point guard and reigning scapegoat of the Milwaukee Bucks. During his tenure, Bledsoe helped the team to back to back seasons with the best record in the league in addition to being named to the NBA’s All Defensive First Team in 2019. For his efforts, he was awarded with a four-year contract extension worth $70 million in March of 2019.

However, whenever Bucks fans mentioned changes to get the team over the hump, Bledsoe’s name was brought up first. Everyone acknowledges that Bledsoe is a solid player; the problem is the Eastern Conference is loaded with All-Star caliber point guards. When measured up against Kyrie Irving, Kemba Walker, Trae Young and Kyle Lowry, Bucks fans felt they needed an upgrade.

This offseason Eric Bledsoe was sent to the New Orleans Pelicans in a trade that brought in Jrue Holiday. A quick look at the numbers shows that Holiday presents an upgrade in productivity; last season he outpaced Bledsoe in points per games, assists, rebounds and 3-point shooting percentage.

Before landing in New Orleans, and having no real shot at a deep playoff run, Holiday was named an All-Star as a member of the Philadelphia 76ers. He’s been a high level producer ever since entering the league in 2010 and his reputation as a tremendous on-ball defender precedes him. Given Coach Budenholzer’s pace and space style of play, Holiday looks to be the point guard solution Bucks fans have been asking for.

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