The Milwaukee Bucks gave some life to their postseason Saturday with a 124-104 rout of the heavily favored Detroit Pistons in Game 3 of their first-round series. They pushed the ball, passed the ball (they registered 34 assists) and attacked the rim to overwhelm the Pistons.
This style of play should sound familiar to Marquette fans because it is similar to the method the Golden Eagles used to finish a surprising fourth in the Big East last season.
The offensive outburst may be too late to save this season, but it is something to build on, especially after a year where the Bucks struggled to find an offensive identity.
The Bucks added Andrew Bogut and Jamaal Magloire to give a stronger inside presence, but head coach Terry Stotts never figured out how to use them effectively. After an impressive start to the season, Milwaukee faltered down the stretch, going 4-6 in the final month of the season.
When the Bucks wanted to play faster, they were bogged down by Magloire. In half court sets, the play would become stagnant as they tried to get the ball down
into the post. These breakdowns led to T.J. Ford or Michael Redd going one on one while the rest of the team watched.
The best reason why Marquette's style would work well for the Bucks is the similarities between the point guards who run the offenses. Dominic James and Ford are short, quick and athletic. They can get to the rim with ease and create shots for teammates.
During the summer, the Bucks general manager Larry Harris will have difficult decisions to make about the future of the franchise. If the team makes a commitment to a faster style of play, some personnel changes need to be made.
Magloire will most likely be traded, even though he is a talented player. Bogut needs to move to center and Harris should find an athletic power forward that can run the floor and attack the rim.
With a more defined style of play, the Bucks could find a level of stability that Marquette fans enjoy this off season. With James, Wesley Matthews, and Jerel McNeal returning as the core of the team, there is excitement for what they could achieve. In Tom Crean's system they already have defined roles, while Bucks players and fans wonder what the summer will bring.