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The All-Star break was a happy time for the Milwaukee Bucks. The worst team in the NBA last year was seven games over .500 and pushing a top-five playoff seed, even with the season-ending injury to prized rookie Jabari Parker and the personal problems for expected starting center Larry Sanders. As the Washington Wizards and Toronto Raptors floundered, Milwaukee emerged as a threat to win a playoff series.
But that was before the Bucks' blockbuster trade as the deadline buzzer sounded. Leading scorer and All-Star candidate Brandon Knight was shipped out. Michael Carter-Williams, last year's Rookie of the Year for the Philadelphia 76ers, was brought in.
Suddenly, the Bucks' season lost its momentum. The Bucks were wary of Knight's impending restricted free agency and believed his per-game numbers overrated his actual impact, but soon realized they badly missed Knight's scoring and shooting. Carter-Williams, himself one of the worst perimeter marksman in the league, exacerbated an already-existing problem. The Bucks' offensive rating dropped five points in the second half of the season.
That, combined with nagging injuries to O.J. Mayo and Jared Dudley, caused a tumble down the standings. The Bucks rallied late and built up enough of a cushion to stay in the playoffs, but a 10-16 record with Carter-Williams inspires little confidence that they can push for the second round.
Still, even getting to this point is a big accomplishment for a team that won 15 games last season.
How they beat you
Even amid their struggles, the Bucks were one of the league's best defensive teams. New coach Jason Kidd brought the "long ball" style that saved Brooklyn's season last year to Milwaukee and found even more success because this roster fits better. The Bucks force turnovers at a higher rate than any team in the league, which helps mask their lack of rim protection.
The Bucks flood multiple bodies to the same side, fogging ball-handlers' line of sight with as many arms and feet as possible.