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Are The Milwaukee Bucks Playoff Hopes Coming Back From The Dead?

By Ti Windisch

Jan 12, 2016; Milwaukee, WI, USA; Milwaukee Bucks forward Giannis Antetokounmpo (34) reacts after a Bucks score in the fourth quarter during the game against the Chicago Bulls at BMO Harris Bradley Center. Antetokounmpo scored 29 points as the Bucks beat the Bulls 106-101. Mandatory Credit: Benny Sieu-USA TODAY Sports
Jan 12, 2016; Milwaukee, WI, USA; Milwaukee Bucks forward Giannis Antetokounmpo (34) reacts after a Bucks score in the fourth quarter during the game against the Chicago Bulls at BMO Harris Bradley Center. Antetokounmpo scored 29 points as the Bucks beat the Bulls 106-101. Mandatory Credit: Benny Sieu-USA TODAY Sports /
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After some statement wins, do the Milwaukee Bucks really have a shot to push themselves back into the playoff picture?

Here’s an article I certainly didn’t expect to write about a month ago. Although many (including myself) had written the Milwaukee Bucks out of the playoff picture in 2016, the Bucks have won three consecutive home games against playoff teams and currently sit five games back from the eighth seed.

Those three wins–against the Mavericks, Bulls and Hawks–came with away losses in between them. The Bucks didn’t move up the standings much based on those games, but the team’s attitude has changed. These Bucks looked listless earlier in the season, but over these last few games that hasn’t been the case.

The Bucks most recent win against Atlanta showed the NBA what this team is capable of, when the planets align and everybody hustles for the entire game. If Milwaukee can harness that manic energy they showcased in overtime against the Hawks going forward, they could make a real run at the postseason.

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That’s a huge if, and the chances are notoriously slim that the Bucks end up playing after the 82nd game. But if there was ever a time for Milwaukee to play their best basketball, it’s right now. The Bucks have four consecutive road games coming up, against the Hornets, Heat, Rockets and Pelicans.

Only two of those games are against playoff teams. The Bucks need to win three of them, at the very least, if they want any sort of chance to make the postseason. The Heat and Rockets are both dangerous teams, but the Bucks have been dangerous too–just ask the Golden State Warriors about that.

We’re a long way from saying that the Milwaukee Bucks are pushing anybody for their playoff spot, and fans are certainly going to continue to check Tankathon more than they’ll be scanning the 8th through 11th spots in the East to see how the Bucks will need to fare to get their spot. But, there is a chance.

It will require a run of sustained winning by the Bucks, something they haven’t done all season. Aside from four straight wins in the beginning of November, Milwaukee has yet to win more than two games in a row. They’ll need to pass that season-best win streak and then some to have any prayer of a postseason berth.

The schedule is fairly generous to the Bucks right now. Aside from a Hawks rematch in late February, Milwaukee won’t see another team currently in the top four spots in their conference until they run into the Oklahoma City Thunder on March 6th.

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There are certainly strong teams that are fifth seeds or worse, but the Bucks avoid playing top-tier teams besides that one Atlanta game for nearly two months. They need to do what they haven’t done all season and finally start rolling over weaker teams, and they need to start now if they want any shot at the playoffs.

This certainly isn’t a do-or-die scenario for the Bucks long-term, but making the playoffs would be a nice bounce-back story for this team. They’d drop several draft spots, but doesn’t mean Milwaukee would be worse off for being better now.

Next: The Top 10 Draft Picks in Milwaukee Bucks History

Adding some more wins to their belts and getting Jabari Parker some playoff run could end up being more beneficial than a lottery pick down the road. This whole conversation ends if the Bucks just drop a few more games over the next week or so anyway. But as of right now, there is a faint bit of life left in Milwaukee’s playoff hopes.

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