The Milwaukee Bucks have been on the receiving end of harsh criticism over the past few months.
Following their first-round playoff loss to the Indiana Pacers, the Bucks have fallen out of favor in the eyes of many fans, analysts and oddsmakers. While they were largely derailed by injuries, a story that has been all too common over the past few years, the doubters do not care. The only way they can earn their respect back from the NBA community is by getting back to their winning ways.
While some believe they cannot do it, there are a handful of reasons to be optimistic about the Bucks heading into the 2024-25 NBA season. Let's analyze a few.
Bucks' Damian Lillard will be in better shape
It's no secret that Damian Lillard was put in an awkward position last offseason. While he waited for a trade from the Portland Trail Blazers to materialize, he couldn't risk injury, limiting how much time the star point guard could work out and stay in shape. That hurt him when he landed in Milwaukee just a few days before camp opened, as he was not in tip-top shape as he normally would be.
This offseason, not only has Lillard been able to get back in the gym regularly, but he's been putting in double the work to make up for last year's shortcomings it seems. He should enter training camp and the regular season in excellent shape, and the added chemistry with his teammates should only help him elevate his play further.
He didn't look like the Damian Lillard Milwaukee Bucks fans were expecting last season, but he could certainly get back on the right track in 2024-25.