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After winning an NBA title the previous season, the Milwaukee Bucks haven't experienced the season they expected. It's difficult to determine whether it's time to panic, but after a humiliating loss to a weakened Brooklyn Nets squad, it appears that it might be.
Milwaukee appears to be a team that will finish somewhere between the three and five seed, but it doesn't seem to faze them. They had been the number one seed in previous seasons, but they didn't do well in the playoffs, falling short of an NBA championship. Milwaukee at this point simply needs to avoid falling into the play-in game.
One of the main reasons why this team isn't playing the type of basketball that everyone expects is that Brook Lopez, their most crucial defensive player, has been out since the start of the season. Lopez has only played in one game for the Milwaukee Bucks, in a win to the Brooklyn Nets, and he is a significant reason why they haven't been able to execute their normal defensive schemes.
Milwaukee hasn't played the type of basketball that most people expect from them, but there's little doubt that they can't repeat as NBA champions this season. There are various reasons why this team can win an NBA championship, but at the end of the day, Giannis Antetokounmpo is without a doubt the best player in the world, and if he can continue to be the best player in the world, the Bucks have a good chance of repeating and winning another title.
Do the Bucks have what it takes to repeat? Let’s take a look at if the Bucks are pretenders or contenders.
Winning an NBA title is never easy. As we have seen with the past 20 champions, every team is going to need something significant to go their way. Whether that is an unfortunate injury to someone, or having guys on the roster step up more than they ever have. There is a reason why winning a championship is so hard, and a reason why we have seen crazy upsets in the past. If a team is going to win a title, they’re going to need everyone on their roster to be playing the best basketball they possibly can, and even sometimes that isn’t enough to get the job done. Matchups are always something that is going to play a major factor, and some teams just know how to get the job done against certain teams when it matters most.
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Are The Bucks Pretenders Or Contenders?
Contenders
2. Giannis demonstrated his ability to deliver when it matters most
It's difficult to argue with Giannis Antetokounmpo's dominance. Most people feel he and Kevin Durant are the two best players in the world, and arguing otherwise is illogical. What Giannis Antetokounmpo achieves on the defensive end of the court, on the other hand, might give him a big advantage over Durant. By any measure of the imagination, Durant isn't a bad defender, but he can't do everything Antetokounmpo can.
The Milwaukee Bucks won the NBA championship last season as a result of players stepping up, and Giannis Antetokounmpo has finally found a way to recreate his regular-season performance in the postseason.
Last year's playoffs demonstrated to everyone that he is the best player in the planet, and there's a case to be made that he has been for the previous three seasons. In the past three seasons, he has two MVPs, a Defensive Player of the Year, an NBA title, and a Finals MVP.
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If Giannis Antetokounmpo can duplicate his performance as the best player in the world throughout the playoffs, it's tough to see anyone beating this Milwaukee Bucks team.
1. They won't have their entire roster until the postseason, but they're constructed for the playoffs
For the playoffs, the Milwaukee Bucks' roster will be pared down to a 7-8-man rotation. What they do with George Hill will be interesting to watch, but he'll most likely be the eighth or ninth guy in the rotation, however he could be the secondary ball handler. Giannis Antetokounmpo, Khris Middleton, Jrue Holiday, Bobby Portis, Grayson Allen, Brook Lopez, Wesley Matthews, Pat Connaughton, and Serge Ibaka will all be in different lineups for the Milwaukee Bucks.
With the acquisitions of Bembry and Carter, one of them could slip into the lineup if they show some potential in the final 20 games of the regular season.
All of those players are not only top-tier players, but they also play excellent defense.
Milwaukee is one of the best defensive teams in the NBA, and if these players can continue to defend at a high level while also scoring at a high level, like they did in the playoffs last season, they have a decent chance of winning another championship. If you can't defend, you won't play for Coach Bud in the playoffs.
Pretenders
1. Will Middleton be able to figure this out?
The most important component in evaluating whether or not this Milwaukee Bucks team will be a playoff contender is whether Khris Milton can play at the high level that everyone expects him to. The game against the Brooklyn Nets on Saturday night was a step in the right direction, as he played exactly like everyone expected him to, but he'll need to maintain that level of play for the rest of the season and into the playoffs.
Another important issue for this Milwaukee Bucks team is whether Brook Lopez can return and continue to be an elite Defender and a player who can stretch the floor. The Bucks will have a difficult time winning an NBA title if he does not return healthy. It doesn't rule out the possibility of them winning even if he isn't playing his best basketball, but it will be much more difficult if he doesn't return healthy.
