How The Bucks Can Get Better Than The 8th Seed---In 2013

The Milwaukee Bucks right now stand at 28-30 and it doesn't look like they are getting into the playoffs this year. It is a little disheartening to a lot of Bucks fans with all the hype with the ever so talented, newly acquired Monta Ellis. The good news is that since Monta's debut, Milwaukee is 9-6 and in the month of April have started off pretty good with a 4-2 record. This does look promising and the future is looking bright in Milwaukee with the now lightening fast backcourt duo of Brandon Jennings and Monta. Unfortunately for Bucks fans the future isn't now or this year's playoffs. You will have to wait for next year to see them in the playoffs.

I've been letting people know and understand that the Milwaukee Bucks and Monta Ellis are in an integration period. Some games they look really confused on what is going on. It seems Ellis can and wants to take over the game and put up 30 points when he's hot. By all means if you feel it and it is working go for it! It's just not the way the offense is designed at the moment, having an all-star, and Ellis wants to be a team player. He does look for the pass and sets up plenty scoring opportunities for his teammates. At one point in late March they had a four game 30+ assist streak. That is an incredible feat for a team that ranked 27th last season. When the ball is in Monta's hands things will happen, he needs to made the dominant 1 position. This brings me to my next point.

As I agreed with Rob Schimke (Bleacher Report), Brandon Jennings is a shooting guard, he only averages 5.5 assists a game and has a shoot first mentality. Ellis isn't too far off (6.0 APG) but is more willing to pass around and get points however way possible. Let Ellis be the one and Jennings the two and the Bucks scoring problems will diminish. When the Bucks are hot and scoring they get on fire, and these two need to get a feel how each other play. After a year together and Skiles, or a new coach, restructuring the gameplan to actually play his players strengths.

Scott Skiles

Coaching is the main issue with the Bucks. We've seen that it is possible for the Bucks to win and at least compete against better teams but there is no consistency. When it comes to the game you don't know how players' minutes will be distributed. Jennings being benched until the final minutes of a game, what seems to be random minutes from the bench, are issues with this team. Skiles needs a gameplan that's set so the play is more organized on the court. How can someone off the bench be consistent if they play five minutes one game and twenty another? Skiles needs a plan, his defense can work but the players look lost at times, and have shown frustration on the court and in their play.

The final piece of getting the Bucks into the post-season next year and beyond the 7th or 8th seed is this years NBA draft. Where is the big man? Andrew Bogut was the only real center on the roster and was part of the trade that brought Ellis here. The Bucks have plenty of PFs to go around but they need a true presence under the rim. In Maxwell Ogden's article, http://bleacherreport.com/articles/1135982-2012-nba-draft-milwaukee-bucks-realistic-draft-targets/page/2 , he explains the most realistic picks for the Bucks. I believe we will draft either Cody Zeller from the Indiana Hoosiers or Jared Sullinger from Ohio State. Cody Zeller brings such hustle, discipline, and work ethic which is what the Bucks need on the court. They need to feed off that energy. If they decide to go with Sullinger he'll bring a big physical body on the floor. The Bucks lack in the rebounding category and this 6'9 220lb. man can help fix that. Getting more rebounds will bring more touches to Jennings and Ellis which will bring more points. The Bucks need that big defensive physical threat to take the ball and give it to the strength and future of the team.

In closing, The Bucks need Skiles, or anyone that may takeover for this team, to coach and plan to each players strengths. Switching positions for the guards is number one and will see an immediate offensive impact.We now know they can score and move the ball around so the goal is to get that backcourt the ball. A simple draft selection of a true big man, a team player willing to compete can solve that issue. All the kinks will be out the way and Ellis and everyone will have a feel of what is going on. Ellis will be more comfortable taking the game to his level when needed and it won't be frowned upon by Milwaukee or their fans.