5 Biggest Takeaways from the Milwaukee Bucks' 1st Half of the Season

Being in the playoff picture at the season's halfway point probably wasn't a place most people would have positioned the Milwaukee Bucks at the start of 2014-15. But one look at the standings tells you that's exactly where they are.

Why?

Head coach Jason Kidd's frenetic rotations don't always make sense to the viewer and often make you want to pull your hair out. The offense is sluggish at times, and scoring enough points to win seems painstakingly difficult.

However, there are some things to take away from the surprising start.

Within the confusing rotations is the chemistry of a team that doesn't need to rely on a superstar to win games. For every offensive struggle, there seems to be a defensive victory. And ultimately, this Bucks team has proven to be resilient and adaptive. 

Here, then, are the biggest takeaways from the first half.

5. The Rotations Surprisingly Are Working

Dave Tulis/Associated Press

Nine players currently on the roster have averaged more than 20 minutes for the Bucks this season, and the only one averaging over 30 is Brandon Knight—not coincidentally, he's also the team's best player.

If that seems crazy, it is.

According to HoopsStats.com, the Bucks lead the league in bench minutes at 22.2 per game and are second to only the Phoenix Suns in bench scoring at 43.5 points per game.

Taking the 98.2 points per game Milwaukee is averaging and using some simple math—sorry, I never said there wasn't any involved—it is getting 44.2 percent of its overall scoring from reserves.

Looking deep down the bench when someone gets into foul trouble or needs a breather is one thing, and teams do it all the time. However, no one—except the Bucks—play as many guys for as many minutes because it's a root of their strategy.

Remarkably, the Bucks have been able to sustain success playing this way, and it truly is a thing of beauty. It's rare enough to see players know their role; it's almost nonexistent to seem them fully embrace it.

And it's clearly not going away, so tune in and watch the game of musical chairs unfold.

4. The Defense Is Really Good

Morry Gash/Associated Press

Few teams have been better on defense than the Bucks through the first half.

They rank fourth in points per game allowed at just 97.2, and opponents are shooting just 43.6 percent from the floor and a horrid 33.0 percent from behind the three-point line when they have to face the length of the Bucks.

Kidd's relentless rotations allow them to constantly swap fresh bodies in and out of the lineup, which has been a big part of why the defense has been so successful.

Surprisingly, much of the damage has been done with arguably the team's best interior defender, Larry Sanders, appearing in just 27 games.

Playing passing lanes plays to the team's length, and the overly aggressive approach has worked out for the better. 

Consistency has been a little bit of a concern, but keep in mind, this team is young. As the Bucks continue to grow as a unit, they'll only continue to improve defensively, and that is something the rest of the Eastern Conference should be fearful of.

3. They Don't Revolve Around Jabari Parker

Sue Ogrocki/Associated Press

Entering the season, it was easy to get caught up in the hype that was Jabari Parker.

After a stellar freshman season at Duke, the Bucks took Parker with the second overall pick in the 2014 NBA draft, and for the 25 games he suited up, he looked pretty impressive for a 19-year-old.

Over the course of those games, he averaged 12.3 points, 5.5 rebounds, 1.7 assists and 1.2 steals while shooting a very solid 49.0 from the floor.

Unfortunately, a torn ACL derailed the fine start he was having.

Devastation aside, though, the Bucks haven't been fazed much by his absence.

Since his injury on Dec. 15 against the Phoenix Suns, Milwaukee has gone on to a record of 10-10, meaning Parker's absence hasn't cost them a game yet. And while there are plenty yet to be played, it's encouraging to see the Bucks remain competitive without their most valuable talent.

And who knows? That might make this team even better when Parker returns for 2015-16.

2. Brandon Knight Is Pretty Good

Eric Gay/Associated Press

Silencing the haters has probably been a pleasurable experience for Brandon Knight.

Following the acquisition of Kendall Marshall—who was coming off a great 2013-14 with the Los Angeles Lakers—over the summer, the thought that Knight would shift to shooting guard or even perhaps become expendable wasn't all that outrageous.

After all, there were rumblings that the Bucks were contemplating putting together an offer sheet for Eric Bledsoe of the Phoenix Suns and Greivis Vasquez of the Toronto Raptors. Certainly neither rumor—regardless of the fact that it didn't happen—would have instilled much confidence that Knight was firmly in place as the team's point guard.

However, at the halfway point, there's little doubt he is that guy.

While he doesn't possess elite distributing skills, Knight has been great on offense. Averaging 17.9 points, 5.1 assists, 4.2 rebounds and 1.6 steals while shooting 43.9 percent from the field and a very solid 40.8 percent from behind the three-point line, Knight has solidified himself as the team's go-to scorer.

Performing this well for the rest of the season will make offering Knight a fresh contract during the offseason a no-brainer. He has improved across the board every year in the league, and that's not a trend to bet against at this point.

1. This Isn't a Fluke

Aaron Gash/Associated Press

For a while, it was a cute story. The lowly Milwaukee Bucks, who were the league's worst team a season ago and had become the butt of plenty of jokes, were competing hard out of the gate.

Then they beat the Memphis Grizzlies and a few heads turned.

But hey, even a blind squirrel finds a nut once in a while, right?

Things continued to unfold, though, and shockingly, this young squad was competing against some of the league's best teams.

What do the Los Angeles Clippers, Memphis Grizzlies, Phoenix Suns and Atlanta Hawks all have in common? Aside from being very good teams, they've all lost to the Bucks in 2014-15.

And those kinds of wins aren't going to suddenly stop happening.

Make no mistake about it, the Bucks are a solid team. Unconventional? Yes. But it doesn't matter how a team wins its games as long as they do, in fact, win them. That's exactly the M.O. this team has established through 45 games.

Keep thinking this run is going to come to an end. But don't be surprised when it doesn't.

All statistics courtesy of Basketball-Reference and current through Jan. 28 unless otherwise noted.