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The Milwaukee Bucks are looking to repeat after winning the 2021 NBA Finals against the Phoenix Suns. The Bucks have had a slow start to the season, but are now tied for second place in the Eastern Conference. They are also only 2.5 games back from the leaders, the Chicago Bulls. They recently beat the Brooklyn Nets at Barclays Center. They Bucks started the season with a 6-8 record but won 20 with just seven defeats since then. It has been a real turnaround after many proclaimed their title a fluke. To prove that it really was not a coincidence they won in 2021, here are two reasons why the Milwaukee Bucks are title contenders.
Why the Bucks are top contenders for the 2022 NBA championship
Giannis Antetokounmpo turned it on
A part of the Bucks' slow start was Giannis Antetokounmpo. The Greek superstar had some real work ahead to show why he's a two-time NBA MVP. It did not start well, as Antetokounmpo had some issues with efficiency, and his three-point shot was not falling. However, since the poor start ended, the Greek Freak has been on an absolute tear. Together with Nikola Jokic, Kevin Durant, and Steph Curry, Antetokounmpo is fully in the MVP conversation.
After the Bucks turned it around, Antetokounmpo has averaged 29.1 points, 11.4 rebounds, 6.1 assists, shooting 57.7% from the floor. His 3-pointer is still not falling consistently, but the All-Star forward should not worry. His game is built around his amazing physical attributes, most notably his length, which he uses to skip past opponents for easy buckets.
Antetokounmpo's greatness is the prime reason why the Bucks are here to begin with. He has been the absolute leader, on and off the court, for the past few seasons. His commitment to the franchise, signaled by the massive extension signed in 2020, has been the motor for the team to really improve and surround him with the proper talent so he can thrive. While this season did not start well, it was still his leadership and Antetokounmpo seeking better from himself first, then his teammates, that got the Bucks in a prime position to repeat.
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Antetokounmpo is a matchup nightmare for opponents. That might be the main reason why the Bucks should be considered favorites. There is no way to stop Giannis, especially on the open floor, which is also why the Bucks try and play a fast-paced offense. Even in the half-court offense, he still cannot be stopped, only contained. Bottling up Giannis costs opposing teams a lot of energy and defensive adjustments, which might hurt them in other aspects, like three-point shooting. There is a big domino effect from the opposition focusing too much on Antetokounmpo just to limit his scoring. Opponents pay for that by seeing other Bucks players dominate. That is why Antetokounmpo's presence alone puts the Bucks in a position to win any game.
Match-ups with other title contenders
It was briefly touched upon earlier, but the Bucks, even without Brook Lopez, are still ahead in most series matchups against fellow contenders. Presuming that it is the Nets, Warriors, Suns, and the Jazz as prime title favorites, with possibly even the Bulls up there, the Bucks can have a coherent strategy against any of them.
Those teams mentioned earlier are having a hard time defending the Bucks. Milwaukee has a great two-way wing in Khris Middleton, a solid guard in Jrue Holiday, and a Bobby Portis coming off the bench. When the 3-point shooters are added to the mix, it gets even tougher. Pat Connaughton is shooting over 40% on 6.0 attempts this year, Grayson Allen is heaving 7.0 per game with a respectable 38.9% clip. Thus, if their opponent chooses to guard Antetokounmpo's drives by collapsing, that leaves many options on the perimeter that can punish them.
The second problem is defense. The Bucks, while only 11th in defensive rating, are a great defensive team in the playoff series setup. They can concentrate on match-ups, figure out where their top defensive assets can be best utilized. Another major issue for Milwaukee opponents is that the Bucks have a response to all those teams' best players. Jrue Holiday and Khris Middleton can guard the likes of Curry, LaVine, DeRozan, and others. Antetokounmpo can handle guys like Durant, Booker, Wiggins, and other forwards. If Brook Lopez is back any time soon, he will bring a dose of rim protection as well.
The Bucks are just really built for the playoffs. They have a team that is a mix of stars, specialists, two-way players, and three-point shooters suited for the modern NBA. That is why they are title contenders and have a great chance to repeat their 2021 NBA Finals win.
