Video: NBA TV previews the 2005-06 Bucks

For starters, the season could have been in trouble from the beginning had Michael Redd decided to hoist jumpers on the shores of another Great Lake while donning wine and gold. As it stands, he decided to stay put, especially after the team selected Andrew Bogut with the No. 1 pick in the 2005 NBA Draft.

Bogut, the most NBA-ready prospect in the rookie class, should provide the Bucks with a solid post presence that can draw a double-team and kick it out to an open shooter. One day before the Bucks officially made Bogut a part of their team, the Australian center already had grand plans for his new club: A Michael Redd All-Star selection and a Bucks playoff appearance.

The addition of the top pick might not be enough to get Milwaukee back to the postseason, but enlisting the services of last year’s Most Improved Player, Bobby Simmons, will help. Expect to see Simmons active on defense, while teaming with Redd on the other end to spread the floor and give Bogut room to operate. Simmons, however, will find himself splitting time with Desmond Mason at small forward while also getting some run at the two and four.

The team’s good fortunes continued when T.J. Ford was cleared to return to the court. It’s hard to predict Ford’s effectiveness after playing only part of one season before going down with a spinal cord injury, but if he can perform at the level of his rookie season, he’ll be a major boost to the Bucks backcourt.

While the new faces in the Bucks lineup and new head coach Terry Stotts may not be enough to move up in the strengthened Central Division, the team will remain competitive and will definitely be improved … and luck will have nothing to do with it.

Stotts

They added Bobby Simmons, he can score and he's a real good defender. The biggest thing for them going forward is T.J. Ford. He gives them a totally different dimension. He can create shots for everyone else. He's a true point guard, he doesn't turn it over a lot. He creates easy baskets for his teammates. They'll have a better bench, a solid bench with Maurice Williams, Dan Gadzuric, Toni Kukoc and Jiri Welsch.

They'll be more of a drive and pitch kind of team. They'll spread the court, especially if Ford is there. He'll drive and kick it out to Redd or Simmons or Kukoc. They can all hit threes and they won't be an easy team to guard. They could outscore people.

X&O WEAKNESS
As much as I like Bogut, because he's inexperienced. Can he establish a post presence? Can he stay out of foul trouble? Will Ford's health hold up. How will he hold up this season. They need to rebound better. They have to rebound, because rebounding and defense keep you in games. Gadzuric is their one guy who can defend inside and I'm not sure if Bogut can do that? I don't think he's quick and lively on the blocks. Can Maurice Williams improve?

COACHING PHILOSOPHY
He did a nice job in Atlanta as an interim coach. He runs a lot of good plays, he's a good offensive coach. He spent a lot of time with George Karl in Seattle and Milwaukee and his teams play like that. They run good plays, execute in the halfcourt and play aggressive defense. With Redd, Mason, Simmons, Williams and Ford, they can do some of that stuff. I don't know if they'll be as aggressive on defense or front the post like Karl's teams in Seattle, but this is Stotts' first stint as the head coach without the interim tag.

-- Brian Winters (courtesy of the National Basketball Coaches Association)