Bucks' Faithful Need Patience - The Payoff Comes Later
With the Milwaukee Bucks losing 6 of their last 10 games and sitting at 8-13 through 21 games, some fans have begun to push the panic button. While it's fine to wonder which guys are going to be part of the future, patience this season and beyond will be vital for everyone involved.
The truth is, Milwaukee isn't a fully refined group at this point and there's nothing wrong with that. They generally knock off teams they should beat and lose to clubs that are clearly better - with some variances mixed in.
The enormous jump from 15 wins in the 2013-2014 season up to 41 victories a year ago may have done more harm than good, at least as it pertains to the fans' perspective on this season and the team in general.
They weren't really that good last year and it's not their time to compete for any significant team accomplishments. The entire group is a work in progress where analysis, big picture vision, and the avoidance of knee-jerk reactions are imperative to move toward a championship down the road.
While the acquisition of free agent Greg Monroe signified the Bucks were confident they would be a playoff participant the next couple of years, it shouldn't have been an indication of an "all in" push.
He brings offense to the post and solid rebounding, but it's clear they're figuring out his defensive capability at this point. Part of the club's struggles to stop the opposition (11 games allowing 100+ points) this year has been integrating Monroe in the middle.
Meanwhile, there are some fair question marks surrounding Michael Carter-Williams as the guy who should be leading the Bucks at the point, and yet it's important to remember he too is only 24 years old. MCW is also getting used to playing with a team that has talent around him after toiling in Philadelphia.
It was a bit surprising that Jason Kidd took him out as the starter, though it may have given MCW something to think about in regards to his play. He scored 20 points in the Bucks' win over the New York Knicks and his turnovers are down slightly from earlier in the season.
Not surprisingly, the key components to success now and in the future will be Giannis Antetokounmpo, Jabari Parker and Khris Middleton.
Giannis has continued to develop at a steady pace, now averaging 16 points per contest and improving in all aspects of his game. He just turned 21 on December 6th, so perfecting his raw skill and athleticism into a consistent weapon on the court isn't there yet.
He has the capability to take over games and fill up the stat lines, but Giannis isn't ready to carry a team on his back every night, and he will fight inconsistency with his jump shot.
Parker also went to a bench role - part performance, part knee recovery - but he returned to the starting five against the Knicks, responding with 17 points and 7 boards. Still only 20 years old, Parker's development has been delayed by the knee injury.
Aside from the time lost due to the ACL tear last season, he hasn't played a full season yet and needs to learn to adjust to any pain or issues with his knee until he's fully recovered. Parker is another guy that will be there for you one night and then disappear the next.
That leaves the most intriguing player as far as the present success of the team goes. Middleton was essentially chosen over Brandon Knight to be the guy securing a big deal in the backcourt. The 5-year, $70 million contract brings with it added responsibility and pressure.
As Milwaukee tries to find its offensive identity, Middleton is being asked to be the one giving them a consistent scoring threat as the two-guard this season. His points are slightly up (14.3 points per game), but he hasn't delivered like they hoped for prior to the season.
While Middleton's 3-point field goal percentage has taken a big jump to 47.3% (40.7% last season), his 2-point field goals have dipped 15% down to a meager 35.3%. If the Bucks want to match last year's win total, they'll need him to find his stroke from inside the arc.
All of this adds up to a team still trying to figure it all out - and that's perfectly fine. They've played less than 30% of their schedule this season and 2015-2016 isn't the time for a title run.
It appears the organization has the proper perspective in showing patience with these guys. The telling sign would be if they make any trades this season. If they do, it needs to be with the future in mind, not some ill-advised push for the 4th-seed this year by giving up youth or picks.
As for the fans, it's understandably tougher to sit back and wait. I'd argue that you've endured this long already - decades really - to have a consistently good team, so just calmly put up with another season or two.
If you can see the forest through the trees, you can enjoy watching the development of these young, talented athletes as they grow together as a team you can be proud of - and call your own.