Pythagorean Record: 42-40 (T-15th)
Offensive Rating: 102.7 (26th)
Defensive Rating: 102.2 (T-3rd)
Net Rating: 0.5 (15th)
Projected Rotation
Starters:
PG - Michael Carter-Williams
SG - Khris Middleton
SF - Giannis Antetokounmpo
PF - Jabari Parker
C - Greg Monroe
Reserves:
G - Greivis Vasquez
F/C - John Henson
G - O.J. Mayo
G - Jerryd Bayless
C - Miles Plumlee
Storyline: Can Milwaukee maintain a top five defense?
Last season the Bucks surprised everyone, increasing their win total by a whopping 26 games, thanks to a massive defensive improvement. After having the NBA's worst defense the year before, Jason Kidd implemented an aggressive style that helped them force more turnovers than any team in the league. They also protected the rim well: only the Bulls held opponents to a lower FG% within three feet of the basket. Because of this, they managed to finish tied for third in defensive efficiency despite being a poor rebounding team.
Their biggest off-season move was signing Greg Monroe, who will replace Zaza Pachulia as the starting center. Pachulia isn't especially known as a rim protector, but the Bucks were five points per 100 possessions better defensively when he was on the floor last season. While Monroe probably isn't the defender Pachulia is, he's not as bad as people think. The Pistons were about league average on that end when he played center, and Seth Partnow's rim protection stats seem to support that he was better as a center than as a power forward. In fact, if you compare just his numbers as a center to Pachulia's overall numbers, they aren't that far off:
(They also have John Henson, who is an outstanding rim protector. According to Partnow's stats, he saved his team approximately 10 points per 36 minutes last season, fifth-best leaguewide.)
It's hard to imagine that Milwaukee will even have a league-average offense this season, so in order for them to replicate last year's success they will again need to be great defensively. And that will likely come down to Monroe at least being respectable protecting the basket.
Next up, the San Antonio Spurs.
Their biggest off-season move was signing Greg Monroe, who will replace Zaza Pachulia as the starting center. Pachulia isn't especially known as a rim protector, but the Bucks were five points per 100 possessions better defensively when he was on the floor last season. While Monroe probably isn't the defender Pachulia is, he's not as bad as people think. The Pistons were about league average on that end when he played center, and Seth Partnow's rim protection stats seem to support that he was better as a center than as a power forward. In fact, if you compare just his numbers as a center to Pachulia's overall numbers, they aren't that far off:
| Player | Contest % | Opp FG% at Rim |
|---|---|---|
| Greg Monroe | 32.8% | 57.0% |
| Zaza Pachulia | 34.4% | 58.9% |
| League Average | 35.4% | 58.3% |
(They also have John Henson, who is an outstanding rim protector. According to Partnow's stats, he saved his team approximately 10 points per 36 minutes last season, fifth-best leaguewide.)
It's hard to imagine that Milwaukee will even have a league-average offense this season, so in order for them to replicate last year's success they will again need to be great defensively. And that will likely come down to Monroe at least being respectable protecting the basket.
Next up, the San Antonio Spurs.
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