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By selecting 7-foot aussie Andrew Bogut as the number 1 overall pick in the NBA 2005 draft, the Milwaukee Bucks should now start building themselves a championship-caliber basketball team in the same mold as this year’s NBA finalists.

As many NBA experts noted through the 2005 NBA finals, the Detroit Pistons and the San Antonio Spurs are two very similar teams in many respects.

But perhaps the most striking similarity between the two the teams is the size and strength of their frontcourt players. Both teams possess formidable power forwards and centers who can score under the hoop, rebound the ball and play solid defense.

When Tim Duncan and Nazr Mohammed are on the floor together for the Spurs, most opposing teams find it incredibly difficult to match-up to their size. There are few teams in league who have two, let alone three if you count Rasho Nestrovic, quality big men they can put on the floor the together.

One of the few teams with the size to match-up with San Antonio is Detroit, which is probably why this year’s finals went to seven games. When the Wallace boys play alongside each other, it can be extremely difficult for any perimeter player to score under the basket.

Even Manu Ginobli and Dwyane Wade had trouble finding their way to the bucket.

The fundamentally sound Bogut may never become a dominant force down low like Tim Duncan or Ben Wallace, but he should become a solid inside presence over the course of his career. He possesses size, determination, energy and the desire to improve his game. The fact that Bogut possess international experience is an added plus for the Bucks because he should be able to produce immediately.

Now that the Bucks have added an inside force like the 255-pound consensus national college player of the year, they should become an even tougher team to match-up with.

By adding a pesky on-the-ball defender like Tayshaun Prince or Bruce Bowen to their roster, the franchise could further elevate its status to championship contender.

The Bucks already have a great outside shooter and scorer in Michael Redd who fits the mold of a Rip Hamilton and a speedy point guard in T.J. Ford who fits the mold of a point guard like Tony Parker.

If Ford, who doctors say has fully recovered from the spinal cord injury that left him sidelined for more than season, plays like he did before his injury, the Bucks will be an exciting to watching next season.

With Bogut and Ford on the court together, Michael Redd should also be able to take and make more shots from behind the arc.

That is, if Redd decides to stay with the up-and-coming, potentially championship-caliber Bucks instead of becoming LeBron’s running mate.

Vincent Lim resides in sunny Southern California and was formerly a sports writer for UCLA's Daily Bruin, the third largest circulating newspaper in Los Angeles.