Milwaukee Bucks: 3 observations from second half of 2020-21 schedule

Playoff tests abound for the Milwaukee Bucks over the second half of the season.

With a more competitive schedule coming their way over the second half, the Bucks will surely be battle tested going into their playoff run this season.

After all, the Bucks have 13 matchups that are slated to come against Eastern Conference playoff teams, play-in teams included. Of the juiciest matchups on the schedule, the Bucks will open up their three-game season series against the Philadelphia 76ers on March 17 and they will have back-to-back set hosting the Brooklyn Nets on May 2 and 4 at Fiserv Forum.

As far as the Western Conference is considered, the Bucks will have a matchup with all six playoff teams as well as the teams within the play-in realm. In fact, the West teams the Bucks will be facing in the second half of the season have a combined 51.6 winning percentage, which is higher than the 50.0 winning percentage of East teams the Bucks will go up against.

Given how everything has shaken out in the West, it’s not a surprise to see that number come in higher, especially with a smaller sample size to draw from. And the Bucks will have a true gauntlet when their six-game road trip starting in late March will kick off against the L.A. Clippers and the Los Angeles Lakers and continues against fellow playoff teams like the Portland Trail Blazers, Golden State Warriors and the Dallas Mavericks.

The biggest question when it comes to these higher-profile clashes is whether the Bucks will rise up to the competition. To this point in the season, Milwaukee is 5-5 in games going against teams that are currently .500 or better.