The Bucks hope that this is the year that 27-year old center Andrew Bogut finally stays healthy.  He played in 65 games (all starts) for the Bucks last year and he averaged 35.3 minutes, 12.8 points, 11.1 rebounds, 2.0 assists and 2.6 blocked shots per game.  He has now played in 396 games (388 starts) in his first six years in the NBA and he is averaging 32.8 minutes, 12.7 points, 9.4 rebounds, 2.3 assists and 1.6 blocked shots per game.  Bogut is quite simply, the best player on the Bucks.  23-year old Larry Sanders will be Bogut’s primary backup in 2011-12.  Sanders played in 60 games (12 starts) as a rookie for the Bucks last year and he averaged 14.5 minutes, 4.3 points, 3.0 rebounds and 0.3 assists per game.  He has a nice upside.  24-year old Jon Brockman will be #3 in line at likely both center and power forward for the Bucks this year.  He played in 63 games (6 starts) for the Bucks last year and he averaged 10.7 points, 2.2 points, 2.9 rebounds and 0.3 assists per game.  Brockman has now played in 115 games (10 starts) in his first two years in the NBA and he is averaging 11.6 minutes, 2.5 points, 3.5 rebounds and 0.3 assists per game.

30-year old Drew Gooden is healthy right now and the Bucks hope he stays that way.  He only played in 35 games (18 starts) for the Bucks last year and he averaged 24.6 minutes, 11.3 points, 6.8 rebounds and 1.3 assists per game.  Gooden has now played in 615 games (447 starts) in his NBA career and he is averaging 27.5 minutes, 11.9 points, 7.8 rebounds and 1.1 assists per game.  24-year old Ersan Ilyasova wants to stay in Turkey, where he is currently playing, but the Bucks want him back.  He played in 60 games (34 starts) for the Bucks last year and he averaged 25.1 minutes, 9.5 points, 6.1 rebounds and 0.9 assists per game.  Ilyasova has now played in 207 games (79 starts) in his first three years in the NBA and he is averaging 21.1 minutes, 8.8 points, 5.2 rebounds and 0.9 assists per game.  22-year old rookie Jon Leuer out of Wisconsin will likely be brought along slowly.

29-year old Carlos Delfino will likely be the starting small forward for the Bucks once again in 2011-12.  Delfino played in 49 games (40 starts) for the Bucks last year and he averaged 32.4 minutes, 11.5 points, 4.1 rebounds, 2.3 assists and 1.6 steals per game.  He has now played in 386 games (112 starts) in his NBA career and he is averaging 21.6 minutes, 7.6 points, 3.6 rebounds and 1.6 assists per game.  19-year old Tobias Harris was picked in the first round of the NBA Draft last June.  He will likely be brought along slowly by the Bucks this year, but he has a huge upside.

33-year old Stephen Jackson is going to step in at shooting guard for the Bucks this year and add some serious firepower to the offense.  Jackson played in 67 games (all starts) for the Bobcats last year and he averaged 35.9 minutes, 18.5 points, 4.5 rebounds, 3.6 assists and 1.2 steals per game.  He has now played in 747 games (656 starts) so far in his NBA career and he is averaging 33.5 minutes, 16.3 points, 4.0 rebounds, 3.3 assists and 1.4 steals per game.  Adding a player of Jackson’s caliber on offense might convince Brandon Jennings to pass more this year, and that would be a good thing.

The Milwaukee Bucks are absolutely loaded at point guard for the 2011-12 season.  22-year old Brandon Jennings will be the starter.  He played in 63 games (61 starts) for the Bucks last year and he averaged 34.4 minutes, 16.2 points, 3.7 rebounds, 4.8 assists and 1.5 steals per game.  He has now played in 145 games (143 starts) in his first two years with the Bucks and is averaging 33.4 minutes, 15.8 points, 3.6 rebounds, 5.3 assists and 1.4 steals per game.  Jennings does need to pass the ball a lot more as he is only shooting 37.9% from the floor and 35.2% from three point range so far in his NBA career, and that won’t cut it.  29-year old Beno Udrih was acquired in the big draft day deal involving the Bobcats & Kings.  He played in 79 games (64 starts) for the Kings last year and he averaged 34.6 minutes, 13.7 points, 3.4 rebounds, 4.9 assists and 1.2 steals per game.  He shot an amazing 50% from the floor for the Kings last year.  Udrih has now played in 503 games (234 starts) in his first seven years in the NBA and he is averaging 24.3 minutes, 9.6 points, 2.3  rebounds and 3.5 assists per game.  He will be the backup probably at both shooting and point guard in 2011-12.  26-year old Shaun Livingston played in 73 games (0 starts) for the Bobcats last year and he averaged 17.3 minutes, 6.6 points, 2.0 rebounds and 2.2 assists per game.  He has now played in 266 games (79 starts) so far in his NBA career and he is averaging 23.5 minutes, 7.1 points, 2.7 rebounds and 3.8 assists per game.  31-year old Keyon Dooling is likely #4 in line at point guard for the Bucks.  He played in 80 games (22 starts) for the Bucks last year and he averaged 22.0 minutes, 7.1 points, 1.5 rebounds and 3.0 assists per game.  Dooling has now played in 675 games (84 starts) so far in his NBA career and he is averaging 19.8 minutes, 7.2 points, 1.4 rebounds and 2.3 assists per game.  He is likely to be dealt before the 2011-12 season begins.  The Bucks are absolutely loaded at point guard for the 2011-12 season.

The Bucks were 46-36 last season and they have added a lot of talent to the roster. I think I would definitely bet the over for Bucks wins in 2010-11. I even think they will have a great shot of winning the Central Divison of the Eastern Conference and earn homecourt for the first round of the playoffs. The Bucks are 60-1 to win the NBA Championship and that’s great value so why not take a chance on them?

46-year old head coach Scott Skiles really coached up the Bucks as no one outside their locker room thought they would be any good. All Skiles did was lead them to a 46-36 (56.1%) record during the regular season and then they took the Atlanta Hawks to seven games before falling. Skiles now has a 80-84 record (48.8%) during his two years in charge in Milwaukee. The Bucks signed Drew Gooden and they traded for Corey Maggette showing a lot of confidence in Skiles as a coach. Skiles now has a 361-335 record (51.9%) during the regular season in his career as a head coach and he is 18-24 (42.9%) during the post season.

Forget all the hype about Brandon Jennings because 25-year old center Andrew Bogut if the key to the Bucks’ success this year. Bogut played in 69 games (all starts) for the Bucks last season and he averaged 32.3 minutes, 15.9 points, 10.2 rebounds, 1.8 assists and 2.5 blocked shots per game. He has now played in 331 games (323 starts) in his five years with the Bucks and he has averaged 32.3 minutes, 12.7 points, 9.0 rebounds, 2.4 assists and 1.4 blocked shots per game. The Bucks need to keep Bogut healthy this year because he is the best player on the team.

34-year old Brian Skinner could get some P.T. behind Bogut at center this year. Skinner played in 16 games (1 start) for the Clippers last season and he averaged 7.7 minutes, 1.6 points and 1.7 rebounds per game. He has now played in 605 games (197 starts) in his NBA career and he has averaged 18.0 minutes, 4.8 points, 4.7 rebounds and 0.5 assists per game. Skinner is a good rebounder but he doesn’t bring much else to the table.

PROJECTED GRADE FOR THE BUCKS CENTERS IN 2010-11: A

29-year old Drew Gooden will be the new starting power forward for the Bucks. Gooden played in 70 games (33 starts) for the Mavericks & Clippers last season and he averaged 25.1 minutes, 10.9 points, 7.7 rebounds and 0.7 assists per game. He has now played in 580 games (429 starts) in his NBA career and he has averaged 27.7 minutes, 11.9 points, 7.9 rebounds and 1.1 assists per game. Gooden is a solid rebounder and he doesn’t need the basketball to help his team win games.

24-year old Luc Richard Mbah a Moute will likely move to the bench. Mbah a Moute played in 73 games (62 starts) for the Bucks last season and he averaged 25.6 minutes, 6.2 points, 5.5 rebounds and 1.1 assists per game. He has now played in 155 games (114 starts) in his two years with the Bucks and he has averaged 25.7 minutes, 6.8 points, 5.7 rebounds and 1.1 assists per game. Mbah a Moute plays hard every night and he should be a huge asset off the bench for the Bucks this year.

22-year old rookie Larry Sanders will likely be brought along slowly this year. He played in 35 games at VCU last season and he averaged 26.9 minutes, 14.4 points, 9.1 rebounds, 1.0 assist and 2.6 blocked shots per game. Sanders has now played in 101 games in his NBA career and he has averaged 23.5 minutes, 10.3 points, 7.7 rebounds, 0.5 assists and 2.7 blocked shots per game. Sanders could be a impact player down the road for the Bucks.

23-year old Jon Brockman is a undersized banger. He played in 52 games (4 starts) as a rookie for the Kings last season and he averaged 12.6 minutes, 2.8 points, 4.1 rebounds and 0.4 assists per game. I like Brockman but I don’t see him playing much for the Bucks this year.

PROJECTED GRADE FOR THE BUCKS POWER FORWARDS IN 2010-11: B

30-year old Corey Maggette will be the starting small forward for the Bucks this year. He played in 70 games (49 starts) for the Warriors last season and he averaged 29.7 minutes, 19.8 points, 5.3 rebounds and 2.5 assists per game. Maggette has now played in 710 games (432 starts) in his NBA career and he has averaged 29.3 minutes, 16.6 points, 5.1 rebounds and 2.2 assists per game. The Bucks are hoping that Maggette will give them more scoring punch in 2010-11.

23-year old Ersan Ilyasova will back up Maggette this year. Ilyasova played in 81 games (31 starts) for the Bucks last season and he averaged 23.4 minutes, 10.4 points, 6.4 rebounds and 1.0 assist per game. He has now played in 147 games (45 starts) in his two years with the Bucks and he has averaged 19.5 minutes, 8.4 points, 4.8 rebounds and 0.9 assists per game. I look for Ilyasova to be productive off the bench for the Bucks this year.

Rookie Darington Hobson will be brought along slowly by the Bucks this year. He played in 35 games for New Mexico last season and he averaged 15.9 points, 9.3 rebounds, 4.6 assists and 1.3 steals per game. Hobson played in 90 games in his college career and he averaged 16.4 points, 8.8 rebounds, 3.6 assists and 1.1 steals per game.

PROJECTED GRADE FOR THE BUCKS SMALL FORWARDS IN 2010-11: B