The Milwaukee Bucks had the best record in the NBA before the 2019-20 season was suspended in March. Led by MVP Giannis Antetokounmpo, the Bucks have a great shot of winning the 2020 NBA title once the “bubble” games start on July 30 at Walt Disney World.
However, it's worth noting that Milwaukee was on a three-game losing streak prior to the season getting put to a halt. Antetokounmpo was also dealing with a left knee injury, but odds are he's fully recovered now since the NBA hiatus allowed The Greek Freak to rest.
What is fully preventing pundits, though, from picking the Bucks to win the ring this year? Let's take a look.
3. Will Eric Bledsoe show up in the playoffs?
Since arriving in Milwaukee during the 2017-18 season, Eric Bledsoe has appeared in 22 postseason games with the Bucks. They have not gone well. The explosive guard is averaging just 13.6 points and 4.1 assists while shooting 42.0 percent from the field, 25.5 percent from beyond the arc and 70.4 percent from the free-throw line in those games.
The Bucks know what they're going to get from Antetokounmpo and Khris Middleton every night since they are two of the most consistent All-Star performers in the game. Bledsoe has to be that third 20-point scorer for Milwaukee in the playoffs if the team wants to win the whole thing.
2. Does Kyle Korver have anything left in the tank?
Kyle Korver was only able to play in 50 games for the Bucks before the season was suspended. One of the best shooters in NBA history, Korver dealt with a nagging back injury.
While the hiatus provided Korver ample time to rest his back and strengthen it, we do have to remember that he's 39 years old and has a lot of miles on his legs. The Bucks are going to need Korver to space the floor in the postseason and knock down shots from deep.
However, it's a fair question to ask if Korver will have the energy and legs to be that lethal marksman. He shot 41.5 percent from deep before Rudy Gobert's positive COVID-19 test.
1. Will Giannis Antetokounmpo's lack of a consistent jumper hurt the Bucks?
Giannis is clearly one of the best players in the game. However, his lack of a consistent jumper could come back to haunt the Bucks in the playoffs, especially since postseason basketball is played at a slower pace and half-court scoring is at a premium.
Opposing teams can pack the paint against the Bucks and force Antetokounmpo to beat them from the outside. While he has gotten much more comfortable shooting long 2s and 3s, Antetokounmpo is still a below-average shooter.
To win it all, the Bucks need Giannis to master the mid-range like Kawhi Leonard. He doesn't necessarily have to develop a lethal 3-point shot.
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