The 2005-06 National Basketball Association has nearly hit its halfway point, but its still too early to figure out just what, exactly, to make of the new-look Milwaukee Bucks.
Heading into weekend games at Atlanta and against Charlotte, the Bucks are a game under .500 in a watered-down Eastern Conference.
At times, the team has been dazzling especially when T.J. Ford, Michael Redd, and Mo Williams are operating on all cylinders. The pickup of Bobby Simmons seems to be an up-and-down proposition, while the Jamaal Magloire trade has had an impact around the basket.
In his first season, Andrew Bogut has not been the flashiest rookie in the league, but with 9.1 points and almost 8 rebounds a game, the seven-footer has been one of the most consistent newcomers this year.
Williams has developed into a jack of all trades, and may be head coach Terry Stotts most valuable player. Coming off the bench, or filling in the starting lineup, Williams is the teams second-leading scorer with 15 points a night, trailing only Redd and his 25 point average.
This quasi-youth movement made General Manager Larry Harris look like a genius at the beginning of the season, but as much as the Bucks have the look of a contender in the East, they have at many times shown a rather disappointing lack of maturity or direction.
Last week alone, they got slammed in Dallas by 19, but somehow managed to get within a missed Ford jumper of knocking off the defending champion Spurs. A three-game losing streak earlier in the month saw the Bucks give up late leads.
Almost nightly, the Bucks find themselves behind early while letting their opponents shoot at a 60 to 70 percent clip from the field. A credit to the resiliency of the team, they do fight their way back and manage to make a game of things.
Close games have been the specialty for this team; a 9-0 mark in games settled by three points or less, and 12-0 in games settled by six or less points. While entertaining for the fans, it makes things a little more nerve-wracking on the coach.
It would be hard to imagine the Bucks not making the playoffs in a year when the conference is down. But to get home court in the first round (top four seeds in each conference), the team is going to have to figure out how to play a full and complete game.
The jury is still out on whether or not Stotts is the guy, but with the level of talent that Harris has assembled, hes able to get the benefit of the doubt. This team should be in the top four in the East, but for that to happen, the Bucks need consistency.
