The Milwaukee Bucks loved the trophy presentation for the NBA Cup. Giannis Antetokounmpo reveled in Adam Silver rattling off all his profession accomplishments. The world acquired to see Damian Lillard lastly win some workforce {hardware}.
Champagne? That remained on ice. Even with the open delight at profitable the NBA Cup, the Bucks made it clear there’s a much bigger purpose: an NBA championship.
After profitable a title in 2021, Milwaukee has adopted up with a convention semifinal exit and two first-round exits. With excessive roster inflexibility after buying Damian Lillard, the questions have solely grow to be louder about whether or not an ageing core has it in them to win 4 playoff collection on the trot.
Are the Bucks actually again within the contender dialogue after profitable the NBA Cup? Let’s take a deeper look.
Giannis makes something attainable
What was evident with Antetokounmpo dominating the ultimate is that being the most effective participant on the court docket at all times issues. He confirmed Vegas and everybody watching that he can nonetheless be that. He completely outplayed Shai Gilgeous-Alexander on each ends of the court docket and remains to be arguably essentially the most dominant drive within the recreation at the moment.
What a ridiculous stat line from Giannis.
26 PTS | 19 REB | 10 AST | 3 BLK | 2 STL pic.twitter.com/fDRt49pH4w
— Milwaukee Bucks (@Bucks) December 18, 2024
On the season, Antetokounmpo is averaging 32.7 factors, 11.5 rebounds, 6.1 assists, and 1.6 blocks whereas taking pictures 61.4 p.c from the sector. After a couple of years of attempting to develop his offensive recreation to incorporate threes, he has doubled down on attacking the paint. The presence of Damian Lillard actually helps with that, and Antetokounmpo is averaging simply 0.7 three-point makes an attempt per recreation after averaging as many as 4.7 makes an attempt per recreation in 2019-20.
Past the offense, Antetokounmpo stays a wrecking ball defensively as properly. His rim safety and court docket protection is elite, ensuring that opposing offenses at all times need to be cautious of the place the Greek Freak could also be lurking.
How good is the protection, actually?
When Milwaukee began the season 2-8, the workforce ranked twentieth in offense and twenty sixth in protection. In going 12-3 since, the Bucks have been eighth in offense and 14th in protection.
That’s what made the stellar defensive efficiency in opposition to the Thunder within the NBA Cup last that rather more of a shock. Milwaukee was actually stifling with Antetokounmpo and Brook Lopez’s inside protection combining with Andre Jackson’s pesky perimeter work exceedingly properly. From an Oklahoma Metropolis perspective, they may argue that it was a very horrible taking pictures evening (5-of-32 from three) which needs to be an anomaly.
Milwaukee having Brook Lopez swap decide and roll within the second half. One among my favourite subplots of this season is Brook switching, seeing the drive and instantly spinning to get to the rim. pic.twitter.com/9vIUDCCEyB
— Steve Jones Jr. (@stevejones20) December 18, 2024
The reality is that Milwaukee should present extra nights like that to show the protection is for actual. It’s one factor to have the ability to pull it off in a single recreation, consistency goes to be key in having the assumption to do it over the course of a seven-game collection.
Middleton as X-Issue
Khris Middleton performed in 33 video games in 2022-23, 55 video games in 2023-24, and simply 4 video games to this point this season. He underwent low season surgical procedures for each his ankles and it is extremely onerous to foretell what model of Middleton the Bucks can lean on within the post-season.
Within the 4 video games this season, Middleton has averaged simply 7.0 factors in 21 minutes per recreation. He’s taking pictures 25.9 p.c from the sector and 25 p.c from three. Whereas it was actually spectacular that the Bucks might recover from the road in a one-game state of affairs in opposition to the Thunder and have rotated their season as a complete, a best-of-seven and not using a wholesome Middleton in opposition to the likes of Boston, Cleveland, Orlando and maybe arch nemesis Miami might show a really completely different proposition.
Now 33, Middleton should discover a approach to be near his peak averaging round 20 factors per recreation for this Bucks workforce to be a real championship risk. There simply isn’t sufficient scoring depth in any other case and the Bucks being a second-apron workforce leaves no room for tangible upgrades by way of commerce.
Lillard’s time to shine
Buying and selling Jrue Vacation for Damian Lillard was supposed to increase Milwaukee’s championship window, not speed up the tip.
It was a troublesome transition final season after 11 seasons in Portland and dealing with a divorce together with a brand new residence weighed on him. Lillard averaged 24.3 factors a yr in the past, a lower of practically eight factors from the season earlier than. Granted, there’s much less stress on him to be the first scorer with Antetokounmpo round, however it was nonetheless a obtrusive drop-off.
In 22 video games to this point this season, Lillard has marginally upped his scoring to 25.7 per recreation and his effectivity has improved. He’s at all times going to be somebody who could be trusted for late recreation offense, and that’s wanted with Antetokounmpo’s free-throw woes making it a difficult proposition to place the ball in his arms late.
Doc’s playoff woes
This can actually be a priority when going up in opposition to the easiest within the East. Doc Rivers’ championship got here 17 years in the past and there have been loads of bones to choose with the best way his groups have carried out within the post-season since. He has but to make the convention finals since.
Then there’s the historical past of blown 3-1 collection leads as properly, one thing three of his groups have carried out.
In equity, Milwaukee’s gamers have had nothing however reward for the style wherein Rivers has orchestrated this season’s turnaround to this point. It’s value remembering, although, that within the 12-3 file over the previous 15 common season video games, eight of the wins have come in opposition to sub-.500 groups. The 4 wins over plus-.500 groups embody a one-point win over Houston, a three-point win over Miami, an Atlanta workforce that’s precisely .500, and an Orlando workforce lacking each Paolo Banchero and Franz Wagner.
Verdict
As we noticed final season, profitable the NBA Cup is one factor, profitable within the playoffs fully one other. The Los Angeles Lakers appeared dominant throughout its In-Season Match run a yr in the past however had been dumped out of the playoffs within the first spherical in 5 video games.
Between the shortage of depth, league-average protection throughout the 12-3 stretch, and maybe making the most of a lighter schedule, there may be nonetheless loads of cause to consider the Bucks are an excellent workforce in need of competition standing quite than true contenders at this level.
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