Milwaukee Bucks big man Bobby Portis believes that the only thing holding the team back from contending for an NBA title is health.
When asked about how close the team is to getting back to the NBA Finals during a recent ESPN Milwaukee show, Portis said, "The only thing that is wrong with us is people have been hurt. We haven't been healthy, and I don't want to make excuses, but that's how it was for us. Why can't we make it this year?"
Portis believes the Bucks have more than enough to compete for a title
After an offseason of change, there is plenty of optimism around the new look Bucks in an Eastern Conference that will be weak once again. Portis has been a player rumored to be a piece that Milwaukee could move on from, but he signed a new three-year $44 million contract this summer that will see him remain as the sixth man on the roster.
Milwaukee needed to get younger and more athletic this offseason, and they did just that. It went well under the radar, but Myles Turner is a more versatile version of Brook Lopez. The backcourt may not have the offensive thrust that Damian Lillard could provide, but there are guys with varying skill sets and a great deal of strong 3-point shooters on the roster.
Portis notes that he sees the memes online about the roster, but "I see a whole lot of guys that can do a whole lot of things off the dribble. I see a whole lot of guys that can create for themselves, and I see a lot of guys that have a point to prove and have been counted out."
Alongside Giannis Antetokounmpo, Portis is the only remaining player from the 2021 NBA title-winning team. He has been counted out by many a Bucks fan, but still put up 13.9 points, 8.4 rebounds on shooting splits of .466/.365/.836.
Everything about this team has been written off. Many expect the Bucks to be a Play-In team. Almost every player on the roster has been criticized this offseason, but as Portis says, they all have something to prove, and the vibes around the team are extremely upbeat.
Keeping the Mayor of Milwaukee is huge, with his infectious energy around the locker room and his ability to ramp up the crowd into chanting his name at Fiserv Forum. They have one of the best players of this generation and have addressed the team's biggest needs. Why can't they go shock everyone this season?