Preseason Preview

The 2008-2009 season can officially get off on a good foot tonight for the Milwaukee Bucks as they'll search for their first preseason win against Central Division rival, and GM John Hammond's former employer, Detroit Pistons. The new look Bucks come in looking to prove a lot. After a major revamping this offseason, The Bucks and their fans have a lot to be excited and nervous about. 

The Bucks rid themselves this offseason of ineffective coach Larry Krystowiak, defensively challenged point guard Mo Williams, slow progessing Yi Jialin, and injury proned swingman Bobby Simmons. From those disposals came the additions of consistent 20+ PPG swingman Richard Jefferson, solid contributor Damon Jones, and the underrated and overachieving point guard Luke Ridnour. More importantly, the Bucks also added the well respected GM John Hammond, who helped build the Finals winning team in Detroit. His two major moves were the drafting of the athletic swingman Joe Alexander out of West Virginia, and the hiring of Scott Skiles, who promises to bring intensity and tough defense back to Milwaukee.

 The future of this season looks bright for this new look Bucks team. They should once again be able to put up points with ease with the scoring duo of Michael Redd and Richard Jefferson. The new unselfish, pass first point guard addition of Luke Ridnour should free up the offense and give better looks to the fast improving Andrew Bogut and the always capable scoring threat of Charlie Villanueva. Joe Alexander should provide a scoring spark off the bench and liek Ridnour, free up space for people which could finally give Michael Redd those open perimeter shots again.

With the offense sound, the only question marks are the defense and the discipline. Both should do just fine with Skiles on the coach's seat. His toughness will provide the Bucks with the discipline they've needed for almost a decade. Also helping the defense is Ridnour, who is a major upgrade from Mo Williams at the defensive point guard position.

 All signs point to the playoffs if the bench holds up, which its capable of doing with Alexander, Bell, Lue, Sessions, Allen, and Gadzuric if he returns to form. The Skiles-Hammond era hopes to rebound from a 117-79 loss to Minnesota two nights ago. Let's see if the Bucks can prove they a team to contend with in the Central Division tonight at the Auburn Hills in Detroit and even that preseason record to 1-1.