Don't Write Off the Milwaukee Bucks Yet

A lot of sports writers and analysts are expecting the Milwaukee Bucks to have another lackluster season, but I'm going to defend my home team.

Let me start with this guy named Michael Redd—maybe you've heard of him, maybe not.

Michael Redd is the most underrated player in the NBA. He was a second-round draft pick known for his defensive footwork, but, playing behind Ray Allen, developed a slingshot stroke that would place him in the top 5-10 scorers in the NBA in the past five years.

Despite his statistics, the most underrated part of Michael Redd is his leadership ability. Have the Bucks got out of the first round of the playoffs in the past five or six years? No, but the Milwaukee Bucks have relied on Redd like the Lakers rely on Kobe Bryant or Cavs do on LeBron.

I'm not saying that Redd is as good as LeBron or Kobe—but he does not get nearly enough credit for all that the Bucks have gone through, and he's still there.

Finally, the Bucks' management got one right in trading an overrated Yi Jianlian and overpaid Bobby Simmons for high-scoring, high-flying Richard Jefferson. Just picturing  Redd and Jefferson in the same jersey is mind-boggling.

I am not claiming that it will result in the same manner, but for Milwaukee fans this is like having Michael Jordan and Scottie Pippen. Now throw a young, powerful, number-one overall center and a pass-first point guard in the mix, and we're talking about a contender instead of a pretender.

A name I want to mention that a lot of NBA fans might be writing off is Dan Gadzuric.  Gadzuric is a high-energy player who has the ability to be strong in the paint. Sure, he did turn 30 this year—but so did Kobe.

Not to discredit Charlie Villanueva, because I do think that Charlie brings talent to the table, but Gadzuric is a more well-rounded basketball player. He has experience, a dominant presence, and Milwaukee fans have never seen him play alongside Andrew Bogut.

I think new coach Scott Skiles will start Gadzuric and Bogut together, and have Villanueva come off the bench to play more of a scoring role.

Another guy who will have the chance to come off the bench and prove himself at the two and three positions is a player I first heard of from Bob Knight analyzing the NCAA tournament—rookie Joe Alexander. I don't think Alexander will play as big of role as some Milwaukee supporters think, but if the Bucks start winning a lot, Alexander will see more and more playing time behind Michael Redd and Richard Jefferson down the road.

Maurice Williams leaving actually does a lot more for the team chemistry than meets the human eye. Mo had the ball in his hands a lot, and rightfully put up good numbers, but he subtracted from the team dynamic. A true point guard should have more assists than shot attempts—which is something Luke Ridnour and Tyrone Lue bring to Milwaukee.

Maurice Williams played a lot like Sam Cassell did in his prime, when the Bucks had a championship-caliber team with Ray Allen, Glenn Robinson, and Ervin Johnson. Cassell took away from ball movement and chemistry by having the ball 15 to 17 seconds every time down the court.

With ball movement and a dominant rotation down low, Michael Redd and Richard Jefferson bringing in the crowds, and Scott Skiles' hustling, defensive approach to the game, the Bucks have a great shot at not only the last spot in the East, but maybe an upset to go to the second round of the playoffs.

I will predict a 43-39 record and a playoff appearance, with Michael Redd and Andrew Bogut going to the All-Star weekend in February 2009.