Without Bogut in the Milwaukee line-up, the Bucks are almost unbackable to lose. They may even struggle somewhat against Washington when the 2005 number one draft pick doesn’t lace his boots up.
The Bucks need a good backup big man to support Bogut.
The Australian, in this 2011-12 NBA season, has played in 10 of the 15 Milwaukee games, with each absence resulting in a loss. The five defeats have come at the hands of Utah, Sacramento, Los Angeles Clippers, Phoenix and the reigning champions from Dallas.
Bogut has been reasonably consistent thus far if you take out the loss to Denver, when he played only 19 minutes and scored a season-low two points. To highlight his importance, when he wasn’t on the court, the Bucks were minus 17 on the scoreboard.
Since the loss to Denver, Milwaukee in my eyes earned a B+ due to wins over New York’s Melo, Amare, Chandler and Co. at Madison Square Garden, then two nights later in Miami. The Bucks’ most recent battle was against Atlanta at home that resulted in a defeat.
Without Wade and coming off wins against the Spurs, Lakers and 76ers in a five-day span, the Heat had nothing left in the tank and were taken advantage of by the Bucks. But in the end, you do what you need to do to get the win. It was the first time the Bucks had won consecutive road games since December 2010.
For Bogut, he has settled on his eight to 10 attempts from the field, been up and down if you look at his rebounding stats, has been in foul trouble (more so in the Knicks and Heat games), and in the game on Monday he only partook in 25 minutes of the contest.
Thus far Bogut has racked up just three double-doubles, and his scoring and shooting efficiency percentages are at their lowest since being drafted.
What is interesting with Bogut when you take a look at his stats is that when the Bucks lose with the big guy in the line-up, he records more rebounds, assists, and blocks, and fewer points (down 1.3) and fouls.
When Milwaukee wins, Bogut records just over four fouls. When they get beat, that foul rate is 1.8. Also, when on the road, Bogut is dropping more points than when taking the court at home, as well as an increased percentage in blocks and steals.
He might not be racking up big, big minutes, but the Bucks need Bogut fit. They need him down low on the post for both his offensive and defensive presence.
In my opinion, the Bucks won’t make the playoffs. Milwaukee fans may not like that but be honest in answering this question. Would you rather make the playoffs and get swept in the first round, or finish out, get the lottery pick, and draft a promising tall?
A player such as Arnett Moultrie, a 6’10” 240lbs junior from Mississippi State, would be a nice selection. A projected PF in the NBA, Moultrie has skills. He is averaging a double-double (16.4 and 11.2) this year and has really upped his percentage from the free-throw line. Moultrie is a good offensive rebounder who runs the floor well, however, he would need to work on his strength and spend more time inside, not at the three line.
Then there is the seven-footer playing at Illinois, Meyers Leonard. Leonard has been ranked in the top three in his position of C. He is currently putting up numbers similar to Bogut. Key traits of this 19-year old are his size and defensive abilities. Leonard is still working things out, thus there is a tonne of improvement and promise within him.
The Bucks aren’t going to get Anthony Davis, Andrew Drummond, Perry Jones or Jared Sullinger, but for where Milwaukee will finish, Moultrie and Leonard would be a good fit behind the big Australian.
In other news, there have been articles written about Cleveland’s first overall draft selection Kyrie Irving playing for Australia in the Olympics. I will put an end to this right now.
I know it is only trying to generate interest in the sport, however, rules state that if a player represents one country, then he will never be able to play for another.
Irving was the number one pick. He will be in the USA squad be it for the next Olympics or the games after.
In a college update, Jackson Aldridge from Sydney, who is a freshman with Butler, hasn’t been getting much court time, however a performance I wanted to point out happened on Sunday 15.
Aldridge was on the court for 16 minutes and dropped 10 points, including two from downtown. His Butler side takes to the court next on Thursday against Milwaukee.
Another from Sydney is Angus Brandt, a junior with the Oregon State Beavers. Brandt is having an OK season so far, with recent games against Arizona, UCLA and USC.
Against the Cats, Brandt scored seven points, pulled down six boards and gave three assists. He dropped 13, five and five against the Bruins and nine points against the Trojans. Keep an eye on him. He stands at 6’10”.
St Mary’s have provided several Australian graduates and at present have a 19-2 record. A big reason for that win/loss record is country Victorian export Matthew Dellavedova.
The 6’4” G is this year averaging 15.8 points, 6.5 assists, 3.0 rebounds and 1.0 steal per game. On Saturday against Santa Clara, the Aussie nailed 11-20 from the field, scoring 26 points.
Anthony Drmic from Melbourne, now playing at Boise State is another going well in the NCAA. Drmic is averaging 13.1 points, over four rebounds and more than two assists per game. In his last five games, Drmic has been up and down, however when he delivers, he does it big.
When Washington State take to the court this week against Arizona, Brock Motum, the 6’10” F from Brisbane, will need to put up solid numbers. For those that have followed Brock this year, the confidence that he will produce will be high.
The junior has seen a high increase in court time which has resulted in increased points-per-game average (15.4) and rebounds-per-game (6.3). On Saturday against Cal, Brock recorded a double-double (15 points, 10 rebounds). When he played Bogut’s former college, Utah, Brock scored 27 and pulled down eight boards.
Build your own ultimate team! Pick your key players and take a shot at big cash prizes every day with Draftstars. For great odds on NBA games every day head on over to PlayUp. Imagine what you could be buying instead. Set a deposit limit.
Pat Beverley missed the fan he was intending to hit with his first throw late in the Bucks' season-ending loss - then went again!
If people can lose their job, and clubs can face massive payouts, due to the behaviour of coaches, it will drastically change the way sporting teams in Australia will be run.
A Serbian, a Canadian, a Slovenian and a Greek fellow walked into a bar … Well, they’ve actually walked into the NBA and now…
Nikola Jokic has scored 32 points and grabbed 12 rebounds to lead defending NBA champions Denver past LeBron James and the Los Angeles Lakers…
There will undoubtedly be upset results here and there in the NBA playoffs but there’s an overwhelming sense of fait accompli that Boston will…
LeBron James is going back to the Olympics for the first time in 12 years. Steph Curry is headed to the games for the…
