Leading the eastern conference in wins, bagging the number 1 seed to the playoffs are the Milwaukee Bucks. The Bucks were on a roll this past season and in these playoffs as well but as their star player Giannis Antetokounmpo got injured, all hopes had then been lost. The Bucks had no problem sweeping the Orlando Magic in the first round but injuries to their MVP led them to lose the series to the Miami Heat in the second round of the playoffs.
The Milwaukee Bucks have one of the more all-around starting line-ups in the NBA. Starting at shooting guard is their young rookie Donte DiVincenzo who will surely flourish under the wing of sharpshooter Kyle Korver, who is a veteran shooter in the NBA.
Next we have their bigman, Brook Lopez. Funny thing, both the Lopez brothers play for the Bucks and are exceptionally well at what they do. Though both of them can protect the rim and rebound, Brook has the ability to stretch the floor and shoot 3’s which in turn help other players create space.
Then comes their point guard, Eric Bledsoe. Listed at 6’1, Bledsoe is an athletic beast, much like Giannis. The only difference is the 10 inch height advantage Giannis has. But apart from that, Bledsoe can run the floor really well, can finish at the rim and can always create plays for his teammates. Bledsoe is also an excellent perimeter defender with the ability to pick the defender’s pocket and steal the ball.
Now we come onto the two main players the Bucks offense relies on. Though the starting line-up that the Milwaukee Bucks have, almost everyone is a threat to score the ball but the two that stand out and are the all-stars of their team - Khris Middleton and Giannis Antetokounmpo.
Khris Middleton is already a deadly shooter in the league and has also participated in the 3 point contest. Middleton is a pure shooting scorer. He can fill it up from beyond the arc, mid-range and at close range as well. A corner specialist with the ability to catch and shoot immediately, Middleton is a steady shooter who can shoot the ball even when he’s heavily contested.
And now we come to the back to back MVP Giannis Antetokounmpo. Giannis, a freak of nature can do it all. Nicknamed the ‘Greek Freak’, it is a scary sight for defenders when they see Giannis run towards them with the ball. Those long strides and wide wingspan help Giannis beat defenders off the ball and then posterize them at the rim. Giannis invites contact and is not afraid to get hurt while charging at the rim. Another freight train after LeBron James, Giannis has a wider reach to swat shots away or go up for those putback dunks. The only area where Antetokounmpo’s game lacks is his shooting. If Giannis ever develops a 3 point shot, he’s basically going to be unstoppable. Giannis is a matchup nightmare, he’s too big for the other wing players, too strong for guards and too fast for other big men to cover him.
Greek Freak and the Milwaukee Bucks
The Bucks have had a rich history of knockdown shooters in the NBA. They’ve had players like Ray Allen & Michael Redd who’ve made a name for themselves all due to their excellent shooting.
The Bucks are also the team that had drafted Kareem Abdul Jabbar number 1 overall in the 1969 draft. Bucks front office made a few changes and got Oscar Robertson from the Sacramento Kings which was a smart move as this duo got Milwaukee their only NBA championship so far in 1971.
The Bucks may have been knocked out of these playoffs but will definitely make an even stronger run towards the title from the very next season.
Current Superstars – Giannis Antetokounmpo, Khris Middleton.
Past Superstars – Ray Allen, Michael Redd, Brandon Jennings, Andre Bogut.
Past Legends – Kareem Abdul Jabbar, Oscar Robertson, Sidney Moncrief.
