How The Bucks Compare: An Early Eastern Conference Primer

Apr 13, 2015; Philadelphia, PA, USA; Milwaukee Bucks guard Michael Carter-Williams (5) protects the ball as he drives past Philadelphia 76ers forward

(33) during the first quarter at Wells Fargo Center. Mandatory Credit: Bill Streicher-USA TODAY Sports

Philadelphia 76ers

Last Season: 18-64 (14th)

Player Additions: Jahlil Okafor, Jason Thompson, Carl Landry, Nik Stauskas, Gerald Wallace, Pierre Jackson, Richaun Holmes, Scottie Wilbekin

Player Subtractions: Jason Richardson, Thomas Robinson, Ish Smith, Luc Richard Mbah A Moute, Glenn Robinson III

2015-16 Outlook

Maybe, they’ll win a few more games. Maybe.

Although one of the reasons the roster may have improved was to just help others shed salary and gratefully accept their assets in return, the 76ers are unquestionably a better team this year than they were last year.

The fact that Joel Embiid is likely going to miss yet another season is a crushing blow for Philadelphia’s long-term plans in theory, but with Jahlil Okafor falling to them with the third overall pick this year, they may not end up caring that much in the end.

Okafor’s offensive game, in particular, gives him the potential to become a franchise changing center, particularly when you consider that he will find himself paired with a defensive cornerstone like Nerlens Noel.

Robert Covington emerged last year as the sort of truly pleasant surprise that only a team throwing as much caution to the wind, and going through quite so many players on an experimental basis can likely find.

With players like Tony Wroten, Nik Stauskas and Jerami Grant, there are other good players in Philadelphia too.

The Sixers have gotten better, and from the way they view things, they’ll probably be delighted that the Eastern Conference has too. Philadelphia will have more wins, and still end up with a top lottery pick. Everybody’s a winner, right?

How The Bucks Compare

The 76ers have a towering front court, and that in itself would create some interesting matchup questions for the Bucks.

As much as the possibility of a John Henson/Greg Monroe front court has been rumored, there seems like very few occasions where it would be practical for the Bucks to implement.

One such case where it could be effective though is to match up with Philadelphia. If the Bucks went big to nullify the Sixers’ two biggest threats, that would leave the rest of the Bucks’ starting five to run riot.

Next: Playoff Raptors In Danger Of Extinction?