Milwaukee Bucks: Ranking the 10 greatest seasons in franchise history

8. 1982-83 season

51-31, lost Conference Finals 4-1

Although the Bucks were ranked among the league’s best defenses in 1982-83, it represented something of a down period for Don Nelson’s offense in Milwaukee.

The Bucks were deadly on the offensive end under Nelson both before and after this campaign, yet an offense that ranked 17th out of 23 teams in 1983 led to relative underachievement for this group.

Still, underachievement for the Bucks in the 80s still rounded out at a 51-win team, and one that was capable of clicking into gear and getting the best of any of their rivals on any given night.

Entering their prime years, Moncrief and Johnson were the clear and obvious driving force behind Milwaukee’s efforts, with both averaging over 20 points per game and Moncrief eventually winning the very first Defensive Player of the Year award at the season’s end.

With a bye to the second round, the Bucks then produced an outstanding sweep of a Larry Bird-led Celtics team still to reach the peak of their powers, setting up yet another clash with the Philadelphia 76ers in the Conference Finals.

For the third straight year, the Bucks would unfortunately fall to Dr. J’s 76ers, although a series that was decided by the slimmest of margins game-to-game was much closer than the final 4-1 score ultimately suggested.