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Vibes are great around the Bucks right now after taking out the Knicks last night, and doing so somewhat convincingly with a sterling second half: Milwaukee allowed just 40 points after half to one of the Eastern Conference’s best. Maybe we’re getting a bit ahead of ourselves from
just a 3-1 start, but after an offseason where the national media cast serious shade on this team and their chances, I think there’s some measure of vindication to be had. So let us dream for a moment, at least until we know how the Bucks stack up against an impressive Warriors squad on Thursday.
If nothing else, it’s because they’ve done this without being fully healthy. A sprained ankle held out sudden rim protector Kyle Kuzma for a game, illness cost Cole Anthony one, and of course, Kevin Porter Jr.‘s ankle sprain has kept him out since the season’s first quarter. Doc Rivers said on Monday that he expects KPJ to return within five or six days, but in the interim, Ryan Rollins has taken the starting point guard spot and ran with it. Last night was the finest game of his career—on national television, no less—and had the former players on NBC’s game coverage abuzz. This has ignited a debate about whether or not he should start, but given how Anthony looked in Toronto with the closing lineup, I think it’s worth discussing who should be running point in crunch time.
So have your say below, and also weigh in on whether or not you think the Bucks can go at least 47-31 the rest of the way. This is where I’ll add that despite a 2-8 start last season, Milwaukee managed 48 wins, so for the final 72 games of last year, they played at a 52-win pace. Early indications is that while this year’s team may look less impressive on paper, they are playing as greater than the sum of their parts; not something that could be said about any Bucks team since Mike Budenholzer roamed the sidelines.
Editor’s note: due to technical difficulties with our survey host, the Tuesday Tracker will begin next week.
