This week’s Reacts question focused on excitement levels for the upcoming season. We wanted to take the pulse on how fans are feeling heading into this season compared with 12 months ago, given the major organisational changes since then.
Well, it’s safe to say there’s been no loss in enthusiasm, with nearly three-quarters of respondents voting that they are more excited now than they were last preseason, and a plurality of those “much more” excited.
The first thing I want to point out is that while many folks may have voted that they were more excited, they made clear that they were actually similarly enthused for the upcoming season, but that it was a different type of enthusiasm than last year (once again, I should have put a fifth option in there with this as an option).
Naveed2000s: A different kind of excitement. Obviously with Giannis at the start of every season you at least feel you have a shot to make a run in the playoffs. This season is more about the excitement of new faces, a fresh start, and, most importantly, hopefully no drama.
Jack The Tripper: For me, it’s a very similar level of excitement. But this year’s excitement is accompanied by a sense of optimism and “can’t wait to see how this all plays out” vs. the anxiety and sense of dread and impending doom of last year.
eddiemathews: I’m not more or less excited. Differently excited. Looking for growth and effort; wins and losses don’t matter as much. Every win will feel like success more than like relief. Every loss will be looked at for growth more often than in disappointment. We’ll see if this attitude withstands reality.
That said, many respondents were much more eager because of the change in environment.
Nate O: I felt like I was white knuckling every game last season around all of the rumors and drama. It was one of the only seasons being a fan I had exactly zero fun with and entered feeling a sense of dread I tried drowning out with optimism. Now it is the exact opposite: zero expectations on this season other than watching a young team find its identity. I hope they can hoop out and have fun and find a way to just get comfortable.
CheeseCurdFanatic1014: A lot more excited for this year. We knew who the Bucks were last year. Doc was a bad coach and the team was completely reliant upon Giannis staying healthy and playing at his old MVP level. This years team has a new coaching staff and completely rebuilt young core. The unknown with a young team is much more exciting than running it back with last years squad which was known to be mediocre.
Sportsfanwisc: For years the regular was considered meaningless to the organization and a large number of fans; only the playoffs mattered. Sucked a bit of joy from the regular seasonn. This year I can focus on week to week improvement by individual players regardless of the results. Can Rollins be a 20-5-5 player? Will Burries flash the potential shown in summer league? Can Ware be a consistent double double guy? Can KPJ harness his potential and become a monster 6th man?
Others had more nuanced takes, but ultimately landed on being less excited (which is fine!)
BenDrankin3000: I am definitely excited to see the young guys and a new coaching staff, it’s nice to go into this season with low expectations and less drama. However, I think it’s crazy to say your more excited now than last year when we had a top 10 all time player who won us a championship 4 years prior (at the time) and just went out and got Myles Turner from a bitter rival. I absolutely get the fatigue from the Giannis drama but c’mon.
StayPuftMM: Beyond looking for signs of development of guys like Ament, I’m not excited, that is, yet, prior to the trade deadline. We will be watching players getting highlighted for trade purposes who won’t be with the team longer term. I will be excited when this necessary step in the rebuild program is done and then we better know whom our core foundation will consist of going forward.
