Uplift - Star power
On paper, this is one of the most star-studded rosters the Milwaukee Bucks have boasted in decades. Not only do they have two players on the NBA's Top 75 list in Antetokounmpo and Lillard, but this unit features plenty of other recognizable names. As they did early on in the season when it was clear that they had little to no chemistry, this team can win games due to its star power.
It remains to be seen whether or not they can do it in the postseason, but Lillard and Antetokounmpo have willed Milwaukee to a few wins this season. Even though they have not yet been clicking as well as many had hoped, they still have a case to be the most dangerous duo in the NBA. If Doc Rivers can keep hammering home the two-man game, they could become even more lethal.
Giannis needs no introduction. He's arguably the best player in the association, and he's the engine that makes this team go. As long as he is on the floor, the Bucks have a good chance any given night. That alone gives Milwaukee the edge over some of their competitors. It's unrealistic to think that he can carry this team to a win every night, but he will do everything in his power to do so.
Lillard is still adjusting to playing with the Bucks, but when that shot is falling, this team has proven to be flat-out incredible. In fact, when Lillard shoots at least 50 percent from the field, Milwaukee is 15-0 on the season. The guard is still one of the best scorers in the NBA, and although he hasn't backed it up with 50, 60 or 70 point games this season, he's still lethal with the ball in his hands all the time.
While they are not in the same tier as the other two, Khris Middleton and Brook Lopez are both very recognizable names who help this team in different ways. Middleton is the most efficient mid-range shooter in the NBA this season among players to attempt at least 100 shots, per NBA.com/stats, and Lopez is still a defensive force down low, as he has the second-most blocks in the association.
Need an example of when a team put together a bunch of star power and won? In 2007-08, the first year of the Boston Celtics' Big 3 of Paul Pierce, Kevin Garnett and Ray Allen, they won the NBA title. Guess who was the coach? Doc Rivers. The team put these three on the court together, and they figured it out well enough to win the title. It's more than possible that Milwaukee could do the same.
The Milwaukee Bucks have star power that not many of their opponents possess, and that can be a major advantage against many foes.