Milwaukee Bucks: 3 recent developments that could have impacted playoff success

Injuries

Other than the few games Khris Middleton missed early in the season, the Bucks have enjoyed fairly good health during their 2019-20 campaign.

Key contributors have rarely missed games and almost never missed extended periods of time. However, as it always seems to do, the injury bug had finally bitten Milwaukee over the last couple of weeks.

The biggest injury concern resided with the Bucks’ reigning MVP and team leader, Giannis Antetokounmpo. In the March 6 game against the Los Angeles Lakers, Giannis suffered a knee injury that has kept him out of the last two games.

Thankfully, the injury isn’t as serious as it could’ve been. Had there been more structural damage to his knee, the Bucks would have been kissing their title chances goodbye.

However, the injury is still a cause for concern. Outside of the feet, nothing is quite as important to a basketball player as their knees. Giannis has had knee issues in the past, so if his knee was compromised even the slightest bit, it would have made sense for the Bucks to continue to have him sit out games to heal.

Giannis isn’t the only Buck that’s been banged up either. Eric Bledsoe missed the most recent game with a knee problem, and Khris Middleton missed a couple of games recently due to a sore neck. Middleton’s injury doesn’t seem to be too big of an issue, but Bledsoe’s injury is a little bit more worrisome.

Bledsoe has a history of knee issues throughout his career, and we don’t want that to continue in Milwaukee. Thankfully, he’s held up quite well so far.

Role players George Hill and Kyle Korver have also been banged up a bit. Korver recently made his way back into the rotation after a nine-game absence due to a back injury, so hopefully he’s in the clear. Hill, on the other hand, missed time in February with a hamstring injury, came back, missed two more games with a thigh injury, came back again, and then missed another game with a leg injury.

Hill is extremely important to this Bucks team. He’s been a steady, reliable player on the court, especially in the playoffs, and with Bledsoe’s inconsistent play in the playoffs, Hill becomes even more valuable.

If the Bucks had still been powering ahead through the final stages of the regular season, and preparing for the playoffs, injuries could have been a major concern. On that front, the Bucks, like the rest of the league, should be in a much better place in terms of injuries if the league is to start up again at some point in the next couple of months.