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I don't think this is going to be fixable. Brook is old. Khris is always hurt. No young talent coming up.
I hate to say it, but I think you have to look at the next phase and the only way that doesn't become a decade long process is by dealing Giannis and Dame.
I think they need to give it a full year and then reevaluate.
I thought they could legit win it all last year if not for the injuries. Maybe they can get on a roll. New guys need to fit in and start playing.
Middleton has killed the Bucks. Constant injuries and is now much slower and still costly. Problem is he is still on contract next year.
As long as that dude named Giannis is still lacing them up, I am supporting this team......59pts, 14rebs, 7assts, 3blocks, 2steals last night!! Great tweet by Kevin O'Connor, Giannis is shooting a career best 48.8% on midrange jumpers from 15+ feet this season:
https://x.com/KevinOConnorNBA/status...14810769658096
How about Giannis visually, emphatically saying "This is My City" late in the game. Just a reminder for all of the ESPN pundits that always seem to want to discuss Giannis' "inevitable" departure:
https://x.com/SamKuffelWx/status/1856908582727422413
Brook Lopez with 29pts, 8rebs, 5blocks, 3steals.....going 5-8 from beyond the arc. He doesn't match up well with every team in the league, but having a guy that big that can fill a stat sheet like that is still valuable. Plus, you need him (size and agility) against teams like Denver with Nikola Jokic.
The start to this season has been disappointing. However, as has been the case going back to the ECSF of 2022, injuries have played a major factor.
2022 ECSF against Boston: No Middleton (still went 7 games)
2023 First Round against Miami: Giannis misses the majority of the series (Heat go to the NBA Finals.....they were good)
2024 First Round against Indiana: Giannis doesn't play a second in the series and Lillard misses a game and is not 100% afterwards (still goes 6 games, Middleton was incredible and Indiana reaches ECF)
The 2001 Bucks started 3-9 and were a Scott Williams suspension away from the NBA Finals. The 2002 Bucks (adding Anthony Mason) started something like 9-0 and ended up missing the playoffs. I want to see this play out and watch (hopefully) what a healthy Giannis, Dame and Middleton can do come playoff time. If a really good deal can be worked out involving Bobby, Pat, then you might have to consider it. However, I just think the recent frustrations have been due to never being fully healthy.
I think these early season struggles could serve as motivation......not to take for granted anything. This could serve them well as the season progresses. It is making them hungry again, which was evident in the way Giannis was playing and leading last night on his way to 59.
https://x.com/rashadburner/status/1856183638452252732
Middleton's stats against Indiana in the first round of the 2024 playoffs:
Game 1: 23pts, 10rebs, 4assts
Game 2: 15pts, 5rebs, 6assts
Game 3: 42pts, 10rebs, 5assts
Game 4: 25pts, 10rebs, 5assts
Game 5: 29pts, 12rebs, 5assts
Game 6: 14pts, 8rebs, 3assts
Middleton is only 33, a guy that can still drop 40+ in a playoff game. Yes, more load management in the regular season. Miami got to the NBA Finals 2 seasons ago as a #8 seed with Jimmy Butler missing a lot of the regular season. Khris always shows up big in the playoffs, as he also did in 2023 against Miami with no Giannis. Just need Giannis, Dame and Khris all healthy come playoff time!
The NBA season is a long one, especially for veteran teams with playoff expectations.
The Eastern Conference is really wide open for playoff spots. Two top teams and a lot of similar teams after them.
With as rough a start as the Bucks have had, they are just 1.5 games out of the 5th playoffs spot. The Bucks have also played 4 games against the top two (Cleveland and Boston) so are almost done playing them. Also had chances to win two of those games.
Mufan2003's Middleton stats show that if he can get healthy he can still provide some playoff punch.
It's a long season. Get the team healthy, play some together, get into position, then manage team health down the stretch.