Fansided

NBA Season Preview 2018-19: 20 things to watch this NBA season

By Bryan Toporek

MINNEAPOLIS, MN - APRIL 11: (L-R) Jimmy Butler #23, Karl-Anthony Towns #32, Taj Gibson #67 and Andrew Wiggins #22 of the Minnesota Timberwolves head back to the bench for a timeout during overtime of the game against the Denver Nuggets on April 11, 2018 at the Target Center in Minneapolis, Minnesota. The Timberwolves defeated the Nuggets 112-106. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Hannah Foslien/Getty Images)
MINNEAPOLIS, MN - APRIL 11: (L-R) Jimmy Butler #23, Karl-Anthony Towns #32, Taj Gibson #67 and Andrew Wiggins #22 of the Minnesota Timberwolves head back to the bench for a timeout during overtime of the game against the Denver Nuggets on April 11, 2018 at the Target Center in Minneapolis, Minnesota. The Timberwolves defeated the Nuggets 112-106. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Hannah Foslien/Getty Images) /
facebooktwitterreddit
Prev
8 of 21
Next
MILWAUKEE, WI – MAY 21: Milwaukee Bucks general manager Jon Horst introduces Mike Budenholzer as the team’s new head coach during a press conference at the Wisconsin Entertainment and Sports Center on May 21, 2018 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2018 NBAE (Photo by Gary Dineen/NBAE via Getty Images)
MILWAUKEE, WI – MAY 21: Milwaukee Bucks general manager Jon Horst introduces Mike Budenholzer as the team’s new head coach during a press conference at the Wisconsin Entertainment and Sports Center on May 21, 2018 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2018 NBAE (Photo by Gary Dineen/NBAE via Getty Images) /

14. The Bucks under Bud

The Milwaukee Bucks were one of the NBA’s most agonizing teams last season. Despite being armed with the league’s best player under the age of 25 in Giannis Antetokounmpo, Milwaukee mustered only 44 regular-season wins and couldn’t make it past an injury-ravaged Celtics squad in the first round of the playoffs.

Poor coaching wound up being the Bucks’ downfall. They fired head coach Jason Kidd midway through the season, and interim head coach Joe Prunty found himself way over his head. That was never more apparent than during the playoffs, when Celtics head coach Brad Stevens danced circles around his less-heralded counterpart.

The Bucks rectified that weakness this offseason, hiring Mike Budenholzer to take over for Prunty on a full-time basis. Budenholzer, who spent the past five seasons with the Atlanta Hawks, will be a breath of fresh air for a Milwaukee squad that’s been devoid of top-tier coaching for years.

During Budenholzer’s five years in Atlanta, the Hawks ranked among the top 10 leaguewide in passes per game each season, and they were within the top 10 in 3-pointers made and attempted in four of those five seasons. This past season, meanwhile, the Bucks were 27th in 3-pointers made, 25th in 3-pointers attempted and 24th in passes per game.

If Bud brings the system he ran with the Hawks to Milwaukee, the Bucks should be far more potent on offense this season. That could set the stage for an MVP-caliber campaign for Antetokounmpo, Khris Middleton’s first All-Star Game appearance and a top-four seed in the East for Milwaukee.