As a fan of a rebuilding team it can be both frustrating and rewarding to watch them struggle through tough times and glory in their small victories.
Right now, just ten games into the regular season, the Bucks already have won exactly a third of the games they did last year, and are definitely one of the most surprising teams in the league, as they currently hold a .500 record at 5-5, just a half-game behind the Cleveland Cavaliers for second place in the Central Division.
Milwaukee Bucks Off to a Good Start
It hasn’t all been pretty, especially when it comes to scoring, and critics will point out that they have only played against one good offense so far this year and lost, but there are definitely a few bright spots on this team worth keeping an eye out for.
- The team which is ranked second overall in defensive efficiency, has only allowed 100 points three times, and is second overall in steals with 9.3 per game this year,while being led by aggressive and solid play from Larry Sanders who leads the team with 7.6 rebounds and 1.5 steals a game.
- Nineteen year-old rookie Jabari Parker’s stats may be a bit of a disappointment so far, but his passion, hustle, exciting and athletic dunks have brought electricity to a fan base very hungry for a star.
- The “Greek Freak” may still be inconsistent sometimes, and occasionally remind us that he has room to grow, but he has come on strong, both offensively and defensively, and is the spark that drives this team as his potential evolves into productivity.Before the season began, Brandon Knight had a ton of critics and appeared to be the odd man out as many seemed to criticize his skill,s and preferred someone else at the point-guard position. He might not have the name recognition, or the flashy dunks that others have on this team, but this 4th year guard prefers to let his game speak for itself at this point. Other Players might get the headlines, but Knight lights up the box score game in and game out, as he leads the team in 3 point percentage, at 40.5%, defensive rebounds, with 5.3 a game, assists at 6.4 a game, and points, with 18.3 a game.
- Then there is Coach Jason Kidd, who is only two years removed from being a player himself, and doesn’t seem to shy away from the negative attention the media brings on him, but rather appears to embrace it as he continues to lead his young, athletic, team forward towards their potential.
“I think I have a job to do, as a player, as a coach – trying to find a win. As a player make my teammates better. As a coach, make my players better, so you learn from your mistakes, you can share that with your friends and family, or even your team, teammates. But God gives us nothing that we can’t handle, so that’s the way I look at it.” Kidd said.
That seems to be the very philosophy that is driving this team forward, as they flex their muscles of potential, and fly forward toward success.
Yeah they blew a huge lead in the first game of the season, but since then, they have overcome big leads and other imposing obstacles, as they move on, and attempt to prove that not only are they building a team for the future, but one who can be competitive and ready to make some noise now.
“The expectations in the professional ranks is about winning, no matter what, who you have or what age group,” Kidd said. “We’re going to make mistakes but we’re going to learn from those mistakes. There is a lot of youth. We try not to use that as a crutch. We try to get better every time we take the floor, no matter how young we are.”
He’s a great coach. He’s probably the best coach I’ve ever played for. He takes it back to how he would’ve liked it maybe when he was playing.” Said O.J. Mayo, another player who has stepped up this season and begun to live up to some of his potential.
This young team still has a long way to go before they can legitimately be mentioned with the other teams their good start has put them in the conversation with, and even though I’m not going to reserve playoff tickets just yet, I am settling in for a season of dynamic dunks and strong defense from a team who appears to finally be putting their money where their mouth is.
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