There are currently just 15 games left in what has been an incredibly turbulent regular season for the Milwaukee Bucks.
Through coaching changes, injuries and new players coming and going, the Bucks have been all over the place, showing signs of being a great team, but then coming out only to lay an egg the next game. However, despite the turbulence, the Milwaukee Bucks still find themselves within the upper echelon of the Eastern Conferencde, and their championship goals remain intact.
As the NBA Playoffs draw near, here are several attributes that could doom them in the postseason and others that could uplift them.
Doom - Lack of chemistry due to massive changes
Continuity has not been a friend of Milwaukee's over the past few months. Days before camp began, the front office shook up the roster by moving two starters for Damian Lillard. In January, the move to fire former coach Adrian Griffin was another seismic change, as was hiring Doc Rivers to replace him. The Bucks are running out of time to establish some continuity before the big test begins.
Since taking over, Rivers has thrown a lot of the past philosophies out the window. Despite the team's 11-10 record since he took over, most of these have been positive. A major factor Rivers has focused on offensively is improving the two-man game between Giannis Antetokounmpo and Damian Lillard, something that was somehow not emphasized too often under the previous regime.
These two stars are finally starting to trend in the right direction in the two-man game, but they are running out of time to perfect it. Lillard coming aboard just before camp hindered his ability to work with Antetokounmpo and the rest of the Bucks as much as possible, as a lot of his chemistry has been built throughout the season, especially since Rivers arrived in town.
Milwaukee will also have to adjust to playing with Khris Middleton once again whenever he returns. While most of the players on this roster have no shortage of experience playing alongside him, and Middleton is not an overly ball-dominant player, the extended absence could make reintegrating him into the lineup with so little games left could be easier said than done.
Rivers is still getting his players used to the new schemes on both sides of the floor, such as with the two-man game between the stars. When watching, it is clear at times that sometimes, players are still unsure of where they are supposed to be, particularly defensively. The players need real game reps to perfect these schemes and actions, and time is running out.
The Bucks have plenty of leaks coming through the bottom of the boat, and if they don't patch them, it could sink the ship on the big stage.
Doom - Questions about Khris Middleton's health
Health has played a significant role in Milwaukee's postseason shortcomings over the last two years. In 2022, it was Middleton's MCL injury. In 2023, it was Antetokounmpo hurting his back in the opening game against the Miami Heat in the playoffs. Leading up to the 2024 postseason, the Bucks currently have question marks about health on the roster.
Circling back, the biggest unknown is Middleton. After appearing in just 33 games last season, he has played 43 this season, but they have been here and there. He started the 2023-24 season on a tight minutes limit, and just when it seemed like he was back in the mix, he landed on Kevin Durant's foot after a shot and has not played since February 6.
Middleton's return from that ankle sprain seems close, but no timetable has still not been dished out. Rivers summed it up perfectly before Milwaukee's game against the Philadelphia 76ers on Thursday by saying: "He's close, as I've said for, I don't know, 10 games now." There's just so much uncertainty surrounding the entire situation.
With 15 games left, he will not have much time to get back into the swing of things. On top of that, he has only played four games under Doc Rivers, so he's still not overly familiar with the schemes when it comes to actually showcasing them in legitimate game situations. Even if he does come back for the Bucks soon, he will not have much time to get back up to speed.
It's not controversial to say that the Bucks need Middleton to reach their lofty goals. He provides the scoring, playmaking and experience that would benefit this team tremendously, especially in a tense playoff setting. Hopefully he can get back on the court soon.
Doom - Struggles against athletic, fast-paced opponents
Anyone who has kept a close eye on the Bucks this season has noticed how the team has struggled against younger, more athletic teams. With one of the oldest rosters in the NBA, many of Milwaukee's players are not spring chickens anymore. They can undoubtedly still play, but they might not have the burst and athleticism that these other teams do.
A prime example is the Indiana Pacers, who Milwaukee is 1-4 against this season. Outside of a game where Giannis Antetokounmpo dropped 64 points, Indiana, a younger squad dominated the series. Budding star Tyrese Haliburton led the charge, but athletes like Aaron Nesmith and Obi Toppin made their mark as well, throwing down dunks or getting out in transition.
A similar thing happened to the Bucks in their recent loss to the Sacramento Kings, where they were unable to provide De'Aaron Fox or Malik Monk any resistance. That ugly loss led Rivers to say, "I worry about it, yeah," after the matchup when asked about Milwaukee's clear struggles against these types of uber-athletic teams.
In the playoffs, a lot of the top teams have the athleticism and youth that could pose problems for the Milwaukee Bucks. In fact, with 15 games to go, it's a legitimate possibility that the Bucks could square off with the Pacers in the first round. The Miami Heat are another first-round possibility, and they pose problems in that regard as well. As do the Boston Celtics, Milwaukee's top foe in the standings.
If teams with these characteristics continue to give the Milwaukee Bucks fits nightly, it could be a significant issue that carries over into the postseason.
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.
Uplift - Experience
Being one of the oldest teams in the league has its disadvantages, but one major advantage is that this Milwaukee Bucks group is very experienced.
The Bucks have several contributors who have won at the highest level, including Giannis, Middleton, Lopez, Pat Connaughton, Bobby Portis and Thanasis Antetokounmpo. All of those players raised the trophy in Milwaukee in 2021, so they know what it takes to get there. When things get tough, such as falling into a massive deficit, they know it's possible to climb out of it since they've done it before.
A hard-fought series against Kevin Durant and the Brooklyn Nets in 2021 certainly made Milwaukee more battle-tested, as did the following series against the Atlanta Hawks, where several players were tasked with stepping up after Antetokounmpo went down. Those battles changed these players for the better, and it should continue to help them moving forward.
Even players who have not won a title have their share of experience. Damian Lillard has been in the league for over a decade and has no shortage of experience in high-octane situations. Jae Crowder has been to the NBA Finals twice. Patrick Beverley has been a valuable role player wherever he has suited up, as has Malik Beasley. These players have been around the block, and that does help.
Doc Rivers has also been coaching since 1999, so he has been through plenty of situations and adversity throughout his long career. As mentioned, he won a title with the Boston Celtics back in 2008, so he's been atop the mountain as well. Many will point at Rivers' postseason shortcomings outside of the title, but nevertheless, experience matters from the leading voice in the locker room.
Everything this roster has been through over the years could help them out down the line, which may be useful if the Bucks face a more inexperienced opponent in the NBA Playoffs.
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