As the season inches closer, we wanted to take the pulse of fans on a very simple question for this week’s Reacts: how many games will the Bucks win this season? As I mentioned, the national media is not high on Milwaukee’s chances after losing Giannis, with most outlets projecting the team to win between 18 and 25 games. They may be right!
On the other hand, a team with a better coach, good vibes, and loads of talent—if not continuity—may surprise many folks. Accordingly, the Brew Hoop community
wasn’t buying the national media’s “skepticism.” Nearly 80% of respondents predicted the Bucks would win at least 26 games, with a plurality (48%)—nearly a majority—predicting over 31 wins.
One point a fair few people brought up was that they believe this year’s team is just as good as last year’s team if you remove Giannis—who missed a heap of games—which should mean they equal or beat last season’s 32-win record.
Gungalagunga: In 46 games last season, no Giannis the bucks were 15-31 that is a .326 winning percentage. Over the course of a full year that would be 26 wins (without Giannis). However, They added 3 quality players in Herro, Jaques and Ware, 2 of which will probably be starting who were not available during Giannis absence last year. Toss in a better coach and a rookie who’s looking like he’ll get some run. and you’re looking at least 10 more wins. Book IT!
Jo Ma: Consider that last year we had two cancers in the team, Doc and all the Giannis drama. We hope that Jenkins and staff will bring a healthy attitude, so we should be a few levels better from this perspective. We don’t have Giannis, of course, but anyway last year he didn’t help that much. So I predict a slightly better record, possibly a play-in. Everybody will be doing a victory lap if this happens.
A few respondents emphasised how important the coaching change could be in stacking wins.
BUCKWILD: I did vote 31+ and its on the strength of Taylor Jenkins is our coach. However, how many over would be determined by how we play and who we add in a few weeks.
DJH: I have confidence in Taylor Jenkins, especially since he has a track record of developing young players, unlike Doc Rivers!
That said, others were more tempered in their expectations (like I am).
Jlee: I said 21-26. I can see the case for everything clicking and winning around 30, but I just don’t see the top-end talent or roster balance on this team to approach .500. This feels like a bottom-5 offense, bottom-half defense to me. I think there are reasons to be optimistic about the medium-term future (certainly more than I expected when thinking about the post-Giannis era last year), but this year feels like a growth, development, and roster-balancing trades year.
Finally, R984 made an astute point about how the new anti-tanking rules will make it harder to get the shoo-in wins that teams fattened up on in previous years.
I think the new lottery rules will potentially make the NBA feel very different next year. I see them effectively working to put a stop to tanking in general. That may mean that the truly bad teams stand out more. Bucks have no incentive to tank anyway, but teams that do own their own draft pick will be desperately trying not to be a bottom 2 team. I think that might mean the bottom of the league is way more competitive than usual, and trying hard and having decent depth and coaching won’t be enough to avoid the basement anymore.
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