Leading up to the NBA Trade Deadline, the entire world was waiting to see if the Milwaukee Bucks would deal Giannis Antetokounmpo. While those close to the situation figured he would stay, there was always a chance something would happen. Nothing did, ending the saga for the time being. Even as Giannis recovers, the Bucks suddenly look more energized with that drama gone.
Bucks have been dominant as of late, even without Giannis
In eight games since the deadline passed, the Milwaukee Bucks are 6-2. Their .750 win percentage is tied for the second-best in the NBA in this span. For a team whose season was on life support just a few weeks ago, this has felt like whiplash. Suddenly, Milwaukee sits just one game out of the last Play-In spot as their playoff hopes increase.
Perhaps the most interesting thing is that Giannis hasn't played in any of these games. The Bucks are doing this kind of damage and don't even have one of the best players in the world in the lineup. Once he returns from his latest injury (Doc Rivers said he is "close"), it could be the final piece to the puzzle to propel this team into the postseason. Who knows what could happen there.
What has changed for the Milwaukee Bucks? After a season full of miserable losing streaks, how are they suddenly stringing together a streak like this? Some of it undoubtedly has to do with all of the trade chatter being lifted off everyone's back. Now that they know Giannis is committed and that everyone is staying put, it further cements the goal ahead.
Several players have also simply taken massive strides lately. Kevin Porter Jr. looks like nothing short of an All-Star. Ryan Rollins' two-way rise has continued. Jericho Sims has become Rivers' right-hand man off the bench. Newcomers Cam Thomas and Ousmane Dieng have bought into their roles and given the team help any way that they can. The whole group is locked in and playing team basketball.
When Giannis returns, they could become the team that no one wants to face in an early playoff series if they keep playing like this. Of course, there is still a lot of work to be done. Milwaukee isn't in the Play-In picture right now. They still have matchups with strong foes like Boston, New York, and Detroit, among others, coming up. A 6-2 stretch doesn't mean everything is fine yet.
However, it undoubtedly signals that they are on the right track. After so much chatter about Giannis wanting to go somewhere he could win, the Milwaukee Bucks are showing him that maybe this team is capable of that after all.
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