Crazy and smart! New lineup analysis! The Bucks are coming!

"Have the Bucks gone crazy by laying off Lillard and signing Turner?"

Under this wave of operations, the Bucks should be the most shocking team this offseason.

After falling to the Pacers again in the first round of last season and losing starting point guard Lillard, the Bucks made a seemingly "self-destructive" decision immediately after entering the offseason: proactively laying off Lillard.

But the Bucks' story did not end there. Almost at the same time, they signed the biggest center in the free market and eliminated their Myles Turner in the playoffs. These few moves allowed the Bucks, who were facing a dead end, to regain the initiative again, and also left Antetokounmpo with an unfinished reason to continue.

Let’s first take a look at the team’s personnel changes during the offseason:

Lillard, Lopez, Connaughton and others have left the team. At the same time, in addition to Turner, there are also high-quality rotations such as Gary Harris and Cole Anthony.

On the whole, the team's lineup is quite dim, but from a coaching perspective, Rivers' system is likely to be revitalized as a result. Referring to his past resume, Rivers has been questioned all year round for not being able to coach superstars. However, for the Bucks in the new season, from the style of play to the lineup structure, it is actually the type he is best at:

Young enough, resilient enough, and focused on overall defense.

The first to bear the brunt is Turner. From the perspective of player strength, this big man is completely an upgraded version of Ronaldo, a modern center with frame protection, space and mobility. Last season, he also averaged 17.1 points, 6.9 rebounds and 2.3 blocks per game. Both offense and defense can alleviate Antetokounmpo's urgent needs.

In addition to the internal rotation changes, the biggest change is the backcourt. After the team lost Lillard, many media were worried about the Bucks' offensive firepower. However, based on the lineup, the new starting point guard Kevin Porter Jr. may bring some new surprises to the team.

Last season, he averaged less than 20 minutes per game, but he still averaged 11.4 points, 39.8% three-point shooting rate, and an overall shooting rate of nearly 50%. As early as the Rockets, he had a season in which he averaged 20 points per game. The chaotic style of play is exactly what the Bucks lack in the new season.

In addition, backup point guard Ryan Rollins has proven his solid defense and can also provide outside firepower at the right time; coupled with new aids Cole Anthony and Gary Harris, although the Bucks' new backcourt lineup lacks superstars, it still has a lot of available players.

This backcourt lineup also fits Rivers' coaching philosophy. It does not have the halo of a star, but it wins because it is hardworking and active enough.

Of course, changing the lineup does not mean that all problems can be solved. Both Kuzma and Portis performed very poorly last season. As the team's strong support, Kuzma was highly expected to fill Middleton's vacancy, but his three-point shooting percentage was only 34.9%, ranking second to last on the team. For a space forward, this is a disaster.

From a long-term perspective, Kuzma renews his contract to regain his outside sight in the new season. Otherwise, no matter how suitable his diminishing contract is, he will inevitably be put on the team's trade shelf.

As for Portis, his problem is also quite complicated. He was originally the team's key choice at the fifth position, but he gradually began to get lost under Rivers' system. Too many singles and too many forced shots last season were his problems. If he cannot regain his offensive rhythm in the new season, his position under the new system will also be quite embarrassing.

The choice to lay off Lillard seems to be a way for the Bucks to cut their losses, but behind the scenes, this can also be regarded as an opportunity to restart. In the next four years, even if they need to pay Lillard up to 22 million per year, what they get in exchange is a younger lineup and more flexible salary.

Combined with the offseason, it was once reported that the Bucks had discussed with the Knicks a potential trade plan for Antetokounmpo. Although it ended in vain, this seems to illustrate a reality: in today's league, there are really no players who are absolutely "untradeable". Even Doncic can be sold, so why can't Antetokounmpo?

However, from the current point of view, at least in the short term, Antetokounmpo is still the main core of the Bucks. After the lineup change, he needs to fully take over the team's offense in the new season, especially considering that the Bucks' three-point shooting percentage last season was 38.7%, ranking first in the league. This advantage has also created an ideal environment for Antetokounmpo. And if he can continue to expand on the basis of stable shooting, Antetokounmpo has every chance to have another MVP-level dominant season in the new season.

For this new Bucks, there may no longer be any dazzling stars, but they seem to have finally been able to get rid of the restrictions of the previous "superstar model". The team's lineup is more balanced, their defensive energy has obviously rebounded, and their players are working harder than last season.

For Antetokounmpo, this is also a brand-new team that pays great attention to overall collaboration, faster pace, and stronger vitality. They no longer have the pressure to win and get a chance to redefine themselves. In the chaos of the Eastern Conference, the Bucks may not immediately return to their peak in the new season, but they are embarking on a return path that is more in line with the trend of the times.

At the beginning, many people expressed their opinion that the Bucks cutting Lillard was too risky; but on the other hand, this was the Bucks' real moment of clarity. The team chose to let go of the past, let go of past star dreams, and face the future with a younger and more flexible new lineup.

Even if Antetokounmpo really leaves one day in the future, it will not be an absolute tragedy for the Bucks. By then, the Bucks will at least be ready to rebuild again.

Perhaps, this is the true confidence of the Bucks.

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