The Milwaukee Bucks have heard the jokes throughout the summer. Aside from Giannis Antetokounmpo, they lack star power. Furthermore, the franchise’s agenda also came under question after they signed both Thanasis and Alex Antetokounmpo to roster deals. Is this all about securing the Greek Freak’s future? From inside the locker room, the atmosphere is far different.

Bobby Portis doesn’t see ‘Giannis and others’. He sees “dogs” who are itching to prove the naysayers wrong. The Bucks aren’t here to fight for Antetokounmpo to remain with them. As a team, they believe they are going to surprise a lot of teams that face them this season.

“I think for the most part on our team man I think we have a team full of guys that’s been counted out. We have a team full of guys that can hoop but their names isn’t big…  I see a team full of guys that can do a lot of different things with a basketball. We are going to surprise a lot of teams this season and when we fast forward a couple of months from now, they going to be talking different about us,” Portis said about the Bucks on Run It Back.

The Giannis Antetokounmpo saga was a distraction for sure. The Bucks travelled to Greece and made every little move to keep their cornerstone believing. Myles Turner for one is a major addition, a star center who just went to the NBA Finals with the Indiana Pacers. Aside from them, there aren’t any All-Stars or high-profile names.

But the Bucks still have players.

Bobby Portis has proven he can be a starting center with a diverse offensive skillset. Gary Trent Jr., Taurean Prince and others have had important roster roles in the past. What matters is how close the group is. And it seems their collective objective is to leave no stones unturned, and extract the most out of this season.

Could it be a success? If the Bucks can deliver on their identity, then yes.

The Milwaukee Bucks have a scary blueprint

The Bucks’ move for Myles Turner went by quietly. Nobody felt it did much in turning the odds. However, preseason proved something else. Doc Rivers was all smiles, seeing the Pacers center completely reshape the way the Bucks play. They have a new identity built from their success last season.

They have shooters everywhere on the court. Their biggest weapon to generate space is the only one who isn’t a shooting threat – Giannis Antetokounmpo.

The Greek Freak’s passing doesn’t stand out as much. However, the two-time MVP has consistently grown as a floor general. Moreover, with Turner, he has another person teams don’t want playing near the rim. The dual threat could cause major havoc for teams. And although Antetokounmpo is open to evaluating his future at the end of the season, he is confident in the Bucks.

“We’re not the favorites. But we’re going to be a problem. We’re going to be dangerous…  We have a lot of playmakers and ball handlers. We have a lot of defenders. You know, we can switch. We have an incredible big that can space the floor and be a problem defensively. We are set up exactly how you need to set up to make a statement,” he says about the Bucks.

In four preseason games, the Bucks battled through without their cornerstone. As for the shooting identity, they hit 40.6% of their threes. Only the Brooklyn Nets and the Minnesota Timberwolves shot with more efficiency. Clearly, the Bucks have a plan. It relies heavily on Antetokounmpo’s decision-making, but they also have others who can put the ball on the floor.

As is with a new team, improvements can be made as the season goes on. But just because the Bucks don’t have stars, don’t mistake them to be weak.