After a disappointing exit in last year's Eastern Conference Finals, the Milwaukee Bucks entered this season on a clear mission to win it all.
The Mike Budenholzer-mentored team has exceeded those expectations and more, racing to a league-best 53-12 slate before the NBA was suspended due to the coronavirus pandemic. The Bucks even became the fastest team to clinch a playoff spot in NBA history, punching a ticket on Feb. 23.
Reigning NBA MVP Giannis Antetokounmpo was having yet another magnificent season before the hiatus and looked to be the front-runner to win the award again.
Milwaukee has simply been a cut above the rest of the competition. The club not only racked up wins, but did so in dominating fashion night after night. Only a recent slump took them off a 70-win pace.
The Bucks are really hoping this NBA season will resume so they can continue their quest for a championship. But for now, let's take a look back at the most epic parts of their 2019-20 season to date.
Bucks' 18-game winning streak
We're just going to count this mammoth winning streak as one big epic performance. Milwaukee was straight-up untouchable for over a month, laying waste to the rest of the league from Nov. 10 to Dec. 16. They racked up a season-best 18-game winning streak, beginning with an intense victory over the Oklahoma City Thunder.
That impressive streak allowed them to race to a 24-3 start and cement their place as legitimate contenders this season.
Some pundits may argue that the Bucks benefited from being in the East and had a rather light load during that stretch. The team's 119-90 statement win over the Los Angeles Clippers, however, begs to differ. The Bucks even held a 40-point lead at one point during that lopsided affair.
The Bucks were eventually two wins short of tying the franchise record of 20 straight wins recorded by the 1970-71 team, as they were ambushed by a Luka Doncic-less Mavs squad on Dec. 16 and lost despite Giannis scoring 48 points.
They bounced back nicely the following game by sending another clear message against the Los Angeles Lakers.
The Greek Freak's hot start
As great as the Bucks' supporting cast has been this year, this team will still go as far as Giannis Antetokounmpo takes them. The 25-year-old superstar has been the driving force behind the Bucks' phenomenal ascent, thanks in large part to his scintillating start at the beginning of the year.
Antetokounmpo became the first player in NBA history to notch 150 points, 80 rebounds and 40 assists in the first six games of a season. The four-time All-Star collected a combined total of 160 points, 83 rebounds, and 46 assists, which resulted in six convincing wins for Milwaukee.
Giannis has also set a record in terms of efficiency from the field not seen in the league since the great Shaquille O’Neal. Antetokounmpo scored at least 25 points in 16 straight games while making more than half his shots from the field.
The Greek Freak has been consistently great all season, putting forth a number of epic performances, including a 50/14/6 game against the Utah Jazz in November. But going for 34/11/7 with five-pointers in a big win over the Lakers may be the most memorable, especially because he “crowned” himself.
Khris Middleton drops 51
Antetokounmpo has been so great for the Bucks that people often forget they have two All-Stars on their team.
Khris Middleton has been labeled by pundits as a system player who simply gets his numbers due to Antetokounmpo demanding so much attention from opposing defenses.
Middleton silenced those doubters when he exploded for a career-best 51 markers in Milwaukee's 151-131 demolition of the Washington Wizards at Fiserv Forum.
With Antetokounmpo sidelined, Middleton came out firing and drained his first seven attempts from downtown. The 6-foot-7 swingman also came away with 10 rebounds and six assists and shot an efficient 16-of-26 from the field and 7-of-10 from distance.
Khris Middleton scores a career-high 51 PTS as the @Bucks win their 9th consecutive game. pic.twitter.com/r7hKeKKExn
— NBA (@NBA) January 29, 2020
Not too shabby for a system player.
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