With so much chatter about Giannis Antetokounmpo potentially seeking greener pastures soon, the current Eastern Conference playoff picture should make him heavily reconsider. While each matchup in the West's first round has already been decided, the East is still at war with one another. If winning is the goal, the Bucks might be closer than many think in this weakened conference.
Weak East should have Giannis thinking about staying
Let's look at the East's first round matchups, where no juggernaut team has emerged from the pack.
The No. 3 seed New York Knicks were the first team to advance, taking down the No. 6 Atlanta Hawks in six games that were closely contested until Game 6. The Philadelphia 76ers upset the East favorite Boston Celtics in seven games, punching their ticket to the second round after securing their first 1-3 comeback in their history.
There are two Game 7s on deck to decide which of the other teams move on. The Detroit Pistons, even though they were the top seed and dominated all season, have come down to the wire with Orlando, who barely snuck into the postseason. The Cleveland Cavaliers and Toronto Raptors, the No. 4 and 5 matchup, are also bracing for a do-or-die Game 7 after a back-and-forth series.
The point is, there is no clear favorite in the Eastern Conference. Any of the remaining teams could represent the conference in the NBA Finals and it wouldn't be too shocking. That should give Giannis hope that if everything goes right this summer, this team could very well be back in the contending picture next season.
Bucks' road to contention is closer than some expect
The Milwaukee Bucks were a bad team this past season, even if their issues had plenty to do with the health of the roster. One of the most pressing issues has already been corrected with the parting of Doc Rivers. While he wasn't solely responsible for Milwaukee's downfall, there was a clear disconnect between Rivers and the players that only intensified their issues.
Hiring Taylor Jenkins alone won't save the Bucks, but it is a step in the right direction. Now, the Bucks can focus on retooling the roster with the right pieces. Equipped with a potential top 10 draft pick and several other tradeable ones, as well as some decent spending money, the Bucks can make moves to get this team back on the right track.
If the Milwaukee Bucks make a few moves, such as adding more wing depth and defense, they could very well be back in business. Giannis has to keep that in mind. It's not like all hope is lost. Would the MVP rather try his hand in the Western Conference, where things are a bloodbath? If winning is the ultimate goal, one would think staying in the East makes sense.
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