Power Rankings Roundup: Bucks On The Rise Ahead Of Playoffs

The Playoffs are almost here, so it’s not a bad time to pick up some form and rise in the Power Rankings..

In the spell measured in this week’s Power Rankings, Milwaukee went 2-2, with wins over Boston and Chicago, and losses coming to Atlanta and Orlando.

Let’s take a look at how the Bucks stack up.

John Schuhmann of NBA.com starts us off by keeping the Bucks rock steady in the 20th spot this week. Schuhmann also gives a rare, but much deserved, national media shout out for Zaza.

"The Bucks ended an 11-game, road losing streak in Boston on Friday, but they still have some work to do after losing at home to the Magic a night later. Zaza Pachulia doesn’t get a lot of recognition, but has been an essential part of the Bucks’ ensemble. Since the All-Star break, they’ve been 16.6 points per 100 possessions better with him on the floor."

More from Behind the Buck Pass

Sports Illustrated’s Matt Dollinger drops Milwaukee two places to 18th this week, and singled MCW out for some focus for his poor shooting. As bad as it is has been, MCW’s job isn’t to score from deep, and coming off the back of a week in which he had arguably his best game as a Buck, against Chicago, it seems just a little strange.

"Michael Carter-Williams’s shooting struggles are bordering on obscene. Since coming to the Bucks, the sophomore is just 3-of-22 from behind the arc. These shooting charts and graphs detailing MCW’s Bucks production are borderline NSFW."

ESPN’s Marc Stein has Milwaukee on the rise, up one spot to 18th this time out. Stein mentions that he likes what he sees from John Henson, but one thing is for sure, Bucks’ fans don’t need to be reminded of the potential that the young big has.

"Best defensive player no one talks about? John Henson, another emerging young Buck like Khris Middleton, appears to have a case there as one of just five players this season to block at least four shots in 13 or more games, joining Anthony Davis, Rudy Gobert, Serge Ibaka and DeAndre Jordan."

More from Bucks News

Yahoo’s Marc Spears is another who has the Bucks at 18, keeping them in the same spot he had them in last week. Spears mentions that the Bucks need to be wary of the rise of Brooklyn on their pursuit of the sixth seed, but by the looks of Brooklyn’s brutal remaining schedule, that shouldn’t prove too big of a concern.

"The Bucks are still holding on to the East’s sixth playoff spot despite their struggles, but are getting a late challenge from Brooklyn."

Matt Moore of CBS Sports can’t seem to make his mind up on how he feels about the Bucks, but at least this week he’s leaning on the positive side. When put in these simple terms, it’s hard to argue with just how incredible the Bucks’ season has been. Moore moves Milwaukee up five spots to 16th.

"This was the worst team in the league last year. The Bucks traded their starting point guard, lost their No. 1 pick to injury and their starting center quit basketball. They are making the playoffs. East or not, that’s impressive."

Drew Garrison of SB Nation dropped the Bucks two places to 18th this week, but also highlighted a nice piece from a blog entry that Giannis put together.

"Giannis Antetokounmpo felt the need to scratch his writing itch. He wrote about why he ultimately sees himself as a power forward. It’s very cool when players share with everyone:I feel the need to help in defense and rebounding and also I like to create. To make things happen for my teammates, by attacking the rim, or starting from the low post with my back to the basket in order to take advantage of my size. For the moment, I realize that I can do bigger damage as a “3” or a “4”. I don’t think that there’s a faster power forward than me in the NBA, who can defend me when I put the ball on the floor. That’s the position that I believe I will settle in the future, but I don’t want any position to hold me from improving all parts of my game.This week sees Milwaukee matched up against Cleveland, New York and Brooklyn. Hopefully by the next time we’re taking a look at how everyone ranks the Bucks, they’ll have the sixth spot clinched.Next: Five Things The Bucks Need To Do This OffseasonPublished on 04/06/2015 at 3:33 PM CDTLast updated on 04/06/2015 at 3:33 PM CDT I feel the need to help in defense and rebounding and also I like to create. To make things happen for my teammates, by attacking the rim, or starting from the low post with my back to the basket in order to take advantage of my size. For the moment, I realize that I can do bigger damage as a “3” or a “4”. I don’t think that there’s a faster power forward than me in the NBA, who can defend me when I put the ball on the floor. That’s the position that I believe I will settle in the future, but I don’t want any position to hold me from improving all parts of my game."