The Bucks credit new coach Mike Budenholzer for their hot start, as Nick Friedell of ESPN relays. The Bucks’ offense has more structure than it did under former coach Jason Kidd and interim coach Joe Prunty, multiple players told Friedell and other media members. “We have multiple sets we can get into, we have — just more of a foundation to play off of rather than just freestyle,” guard Malcolm Brogdon said. The players are displaying trust in the system, which emphasizes 3-point shots and ball movement, Friedell adds. “I think teams are starting to take notice and realize we’re not the Bucks that we were when I first got here six years ago,” small forward Khris Middleton said. “We’re a totally different team even from last year.”
We have more from the Central Division:
- Cavaliers coach Larry Drew is going to ride the team’s first-round pick and he’s told the rest of the team to buy in. Drew has instructed his veterans that they need to allow rookie point guard Collin Sexton to work through his mistakes, according to Chris Fedor of the Cleveland Plain Dealer. “I actually pulled some guys to the side when we were in Orlando (on Monday),” Drew said. “That was my exact point — having to be patient with a 19-year-old kid.”
- Pacers big man Domantas Sabonis is off to a hot start and that presents a tricky dilemma for the front office, Zach Lowe of ESPN notes. Myles Turner signed a four-year, $72MM extension last month but Sabonis has thus far outplayed him. Statistics bear out that Indiana’s offense suffers when both are on the court, though Turner has a higher ceiling because of his 3-point shooting and rim protection, Lowe continues. Sabonis is eligible for an extension prior to the start of next season but it’s tough to pay big bucks for two players at the same position, Lowe adds.
- The Pistons rank among the top 10 in the league in open 3-point attempts, yet they’ve done a poor job of making them. Meanwhile, the Bulls have been bit hard by the injury bug. Spencer Davies of Basketball Insiders takes a closer look at some of the areas of concern for Central Division clubs.
Everyone on the Pistons are shooting below their averages except unstoppable Griffin and injured Kennard. They were showing a frenetic offensive structure so that’s not hard to believe. They seem to need Kennard but he was not given a lot of minutes. No clear trade for Korver works out.
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The Bucks got happy, the Bulls got unhappy. I think the market for Jabari is shrinking, and he will be on it.
really wish we didn’t sign Turner to that extension always knew baby sabo was the one that should be starting
This is madness. A team can’t use two bigs with big talent? Since when?
The problem for the Pacers isn’t the money, it’s the playing time. If the Pacers paid Sabonis the same as Turner, they would be at $36mm, which is still less than a supermax player. The Pacers had hoped Sabonis would work out at the 4 so they wouldn’t have to pay Thaddeus Young next summer. I see them re signing Bogdonovich and Tyreke Evans to go along with Oladipo, Holiday, Leaf, and McDermott. After that don’t know.