CLEVELAND, OHIO - JANUARY 21: Joe Ingles #7 and Brook Lopez #11 of the Milwaukee Bucks celebrate ... [+] with teammates during player introductions prior to the game against the Cleveland Cavaliers at Rocket Mortgage Fieldhouse on January 21, 2023 in Cleveland, Ohio. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Jason Miller/Getty Images)
Getty ImagesOnce upon a time in the not-so-distant basketball past, short dudes were immediately anointed point guards and coaches shoved the rock in their hands, tall guys as centers and told to stand by the basket and everyone in between had to roam around them. Positions in today’s NBA have evolved tremendously in the last five years, nonetheless, the last 50.
The NBA is trying to keep up with the times and adjusting its award ballots. The All-NBA teams, for example, have changed to include one center, two forwards and two guards. NBA All-Stars, in which voting concluded this week, consists of three forwards and two guards.
Why have positions at all?
The skills NBA players of all heights and “positions” have developed allow them to play multiple roles for their team no matter what box we want to place them in. The league isn’t about neatly defined parameters about who can and should do what on the basketball court. We see guys pushing the limits daily and churning up amazing performances.
Significant changes don’t happen overnight. Diets are rarely successful when you go from eating a crap ton of fast food to eating like a rabbit. The small adjustments here and there create change and allow it to be sustainable.
In a small step to de-position basketball, I will break down the Milwaukee Bucks’ roster based on their role at each end of the court. This will entail ordering the players based on the lineups they’re playing in and their role when they’re on the court.
For simplicity’s sake, I’ve used Cleaning the Glass’s positional designations to describe where each player spends most of their time on offense and defense. Here are the positions I’ll be using:
Point
Combo (I’m expanding this definition to include Bucks who are responsible for initiating/creating offense and any of the other positions)
Wing
Forward
Big
Offensive Positions
Points: None
The Bucks don’t employ a natural point guard who serves as their exclusive ball-handler. It’s a role that would fit their team nicely and ease some of the basic ball-handling duties of their biggest stars.
Combo: Jrue Holiday, Jevon Carter, George Hill, Khris Middleton, Giannis Antetokounmpo, Joe Ingles
To make up for a lack of a true point guard, they have several players who are a combination of a ball-handler and another position. Holiday, Middleton, Antetokounmpo and Ingles are the primary shot creators for Milwaukee; they are responsible for finding their own shots and discovering open ones for their teammates as well. Carter and Hill fill in the gaps when needed and can bring the ball up the floor.
Wing: Grayson Allen, Pat Connaughton, MarJon Beauchamp, Wesley Matthews, A.J. Green, Jordan Nwora
This group rarely initiates offense, instead focusing their attention off the ball and creating space for their teammates. They mostly orbit the three-point line and fire away from deep when the rock finds them.
Forward: Thanasis Antetokounmpo
Middleton and Ingles play the forward position when they don’t have the ball in their hands, leaving Antetokounmpo as the only other forward.
Big: Brook Lopez, Bobby Portis, Serge Ibaka, Sandro Mamukelashvili
What separates Portis from the other players in the combo category is his inability to create shots for others. To be sure, he does a tremendous job posting and facing up his own man and gets buckets, a valuable skill. But he doesn’t turn that into open looks for his guys very often, which places him in this big category.
Defensive Positions
Point: Jevon Carter, George Hill
Carter loves to pester ball-handlers the entire length of the court and does a great job at it. He’s spent a lot of time alongside Holiday and has primarily covered the opposing team’s point guard. That’s also Hill’s first defensive task when he’s on the court.
Combo: MarJon Beauchamp, A.J. Green
The Bucks have surprisingly used Beauchamp on a fair amount of points and combos: Donovan Mitchell, Darius Garland, Dejounte Murray. They also have to hide Green somewhere and have tried to do it on combo guards.
Wing: Jrue Holiday, Grayson Allen, Pat Connaughton, Jordan Nwora
Holiday often takes the task of defending the opposing team’s best player, regardless of position. That puts him on the likes of Kevin Durant, Luka Doncic and Jimmy Butler. Allen, Connaughton and Nwora also spend most of their time guarding wings, although not of the same caliber as Holiday.
Forward: Khris Middleton, Joe Ingles, Wesley Matthews
Middleton, Ingles and Matthews will guard some wings and defend forwards. The three will spend some time on the opposing team’s best wing when Holiday isn’t on him.
Big: Giannis Antetokounmpo, Brook Lopez, Bobby Portis, Serge Ibaka, Sandro Mamukelashvili, Thanasis Antetokounmpo
The Bucks love to keep Antetokounmpo on their opponent’s weakest big. This allows him to roam the court and clog up the lane. They’ll do the same with Lopez when possible, and the two seven-footers make it very difficult for opposing teams around the rim. Portis forms the third man of a three-man big rotation for Milwaukee.
Brian Sampson, Contributor
https://www.forbes.com/sites/briansampson/2023/01/27/categorizing-milwaukee-bucks-by-offensive-and-defensive-roles/
By: Brian Sampson, Contributor
Title: Categorizing Milwaukee Bucks By Offensive And Defensive Roles
Sourced From: www.forbes.com/sites/briansampson/2023/01/27/categorizing-milwaukee-bucks-by-offensive-and-defensive-roles/
Published Date: 01-30-2023
Frequently Asked Questions
Who invented basketball?
It is not clear where the original origins for basketball were, however, many believe that James Naismith developed the game while he was a teacher at Springfield College (now YMCA Training School) in Springfield. Naismith invented the basic rules of basketball and put a peach basket on an elevated track. He broke his class down into nine teams, and then began to teach his new game "Basket Ball" to his students. The original version used a soccer ball, and two peach baskets tacked to either end of a gymnasium. Players could only shoot at the basket from below; goaltending was not yet a part of the game. The game quickly spread throughout America and, by the 1900s was an organized sport with professional players playing in large arenas. It is still one of the most beloved sports in the globe.
What is a trade exception within the NBA?
A trade exception in the NBA is an allowance for teams to trade away a player. This exception allows teams the opportunity to acquire players whose salaries exceed those of the players they have traded away, without having to make corresponding salary moves. A team can use this exception over multiple seasons, and it does not count against their salary cap or luxury tax threshold. Trade exceptions can be used by teams to modify their rosters, without having to cut salaries or alter their roster composition. This helps maintain a competitive balance between teams and avoid situations where some teams have an unfair advantage due to their financial situation.
It helps to keep the league financially sound and allows teams to move around without worrying about whether they can afford to do so. Trade exceptions in the NBA are an integral part of roster construction. They can help teams compete to win championships.
When did Bill Russell die?
"The great ones play when they count most" - Bill Russell
A legend lives forever. Legends die when they stop playing.
But those were just a few moments that gave us a glimpse at the greatness of the greatest basketball player.
Russell was born in February 1934. He died on July 31, 2022. In only thirteen seasons, Russell won 11 championships with Boston Celtics.
Bill Russell has five MVP awards and 12 All-Star selections and was enshrined in the Basketball Hall of Fame. He was a brilliant leader and defender who revolutionized basketball with his passion for winning.
He transformed the Celtics' team from one of the worst in sports history to another. He was a tough competitor and an unselfish teammate, who inspired his teammates towards their full potential.
Russell has inspired generations upon generations of coaches, players, and fans. His legacy will never fade.
Bill Russell, Rest in Peace. Your legacy will be one of the most admired basketball players.
Statistics
- Meanwhile, the opening night rosters include a record-setting 234 players with some G League experience, according to the NBA ( Twitter link ). (hoopsrumors.com)
- The opening game of the 2020 Finals between the Los Angeles Lakers and Miami Heat brought in only 7.41 million viewers to ABC, according to The Hollywood Reporter. (en.wikipedia.org)
- The 2013–14 season opened with 92 international players on the opening night rosters, representing 39 countries and over 20% of the league. (en.wikipedia.org)
- The 2013–14 season opened with 92 international players on the opening night rosters, representing 39 countries and over 20 percent of the league. (en.wikipedia.org)
- Between 2012 and 2019, the league lost 40 to 45 percent of its viewership. (en.wikipedia.org)
External Links
sports.yahoo.com
twitter.com
- Tweet / tweet
- Sam Amico on Twitter: "Timberwolves Waive PJ Dozier, CJ Elleby and AJ Lawson - Hoops Wire https://t.co/xKu1ZTuQZN" / Twitter
bleacherreport.com
- Which NBA Teams will Join the Victor Wembanyama Teamathon?
- Recent NBA Intel: Sources Expect Zach LaVine To Re-Sign With Chicago Bulls
sbnation.com
How To
How does the NBA All-Star Game choose its players?
A combination of current player, media, and fan voting determines which 24 players will compete in the NBA All-Star Game. The vote comes from fans at 50 percent, and the media and current athletes each at 25 percent. Each group's vote counts equally, and all three submit their ballots simultaneously. Each conference chooses its players according to their position: two guards, two forwards, one center. If a player is injured or unable to play due to any other reason, then the NBA Commissioner will select a replacement for that player. The All-Star Game sees the participants compete against each in a predetermined format. The team that accumulates the most points in the four quarters wins will win. Each year, the winning team receives a donation to charity.
The All-Star Game also presents a special award to the most valuable player. The All-Star Game draws together some of basketball's best talents. It is the most anticipated NBA event each year. Fans can watch their favorite players play against one another and find out who wins. The All-Star Game showcases some of NBA's most exciting players and is an event fans look forward every year. With its unique selection process, the NBA All-Star Game is sure to provide an incredible show of talent and entertainment.
