Mar 7, 2015; Milwaukee, WI, USA; Milwaukee Bucks forward Giannis Antetokounmpo (34) gets pressure from Washington Wizards forward Paul Pierce (34) in the third quarter at BMO Harris Bradley Center. Mandatory Credit: Benny Sieu-USA TODAY Sports
3rd Place – Milwaukee Bucks – 44-38
I love the Milwaukee Bucks, make no mistake. But I also love writing about basketball, and I refuse to write anything I don’t believe at the time. And I just don’t believe these Young Bucks are better than the Chicago Bulls, not yet.
But they’re close. I see Milwaukee improving by three wins thanks to Greg Monroe’s presence inside and Michael Carter-Williams working with Jason Kidd to become more of a point guard and less of a flopping turnover monster in the paint, which would obviously be an improvement.
They’re still a season off from contending for a top playoff seed (unless you want to wake up and be a Paul George-caliber two-way forward, Giannis Antetokounmpo) but the Bucks won’t regress as far as many experts believe they will.
People really sleep on the fact that this team had literally no reliable post scorers last season. Even if he hadn’t fallen out of the NBA, Larry Sanders couldn’t even dream of overpowering defenders and getting his points like Monroe can. He’s going to change this offense entirely, and after watching it for some stretches last year all I have to say is “thank God”.
Next: The Hated Bulls Stay Pretty Good