This Milwaukee Bucks were one of the most disappointing teams in the NBA last season. Despite featuring Damian Lillard and Giannis Antetokounmpo, as well as quality bench players like Khris Middleton and Brook Lopez, they failed to win 50 games, fired their rookie coach midseason and again fell in the first round of the NBA Playoffs.
This offseason, the Bucks have been rumored to be interested in trading a number of players in order to improve their roster. Middleton, Lopez, Bobby Portis, and Pat Connaughton are the most common names mentioned in trade rumors involving the Bucks.
Instead, Milwaukee continued to keep its veterans under contract and signed Taurean Prince, Delon Wright and Gary Trent Jr. to veteran minimum deals in free agency.
Have the Milwaukee Bucks done enough to return to the NBA Finals?
Theoretically, the Bucks should already have the depth to return and win the NBA Finals. Giannis and Lillard were All-Star starters last season and are each a member of the NBA’s 75th Anniversary Team. Middleton is a three-time All-Star, and Lopez was a finalist for Defensive Player of the Year in 2022-23. Portis has finished in the top three in Sixth Man of the Year voting in two consecutive seasons.
Unfortunately, it wasn’t enough. The bench players the Bucks surrounded their stars with didn’t live up to expectations. Malik Beasley nearly set the team record for three-pointers in a season last year, but his defense was so awful that he often had to sit on the bench delayed in games.
Perhaps the biggest factor in the Bucks’ two-game first-round loss was health. In the Bucks’ final postseason series, they were without Giannis for the entire series against the Indiana Pacers due to a strained soleus. Lillard aggravated his Achilles injury and wasn’t even close to 100 percent in the series.
Furthermore, the trio of Giannis, Lillard, and Middleton have played just six games together since Doc Rivers took over as head coach.
While the Bucks are counting on their stars staying well and the free agents they’ve acquired to be better players than those they’ve lost, it doesn’t seem like the NBA really believes Milwaukee is a top team anymore.
Milwaukee Bucks End Christmas Day Playoffs; Giannis Antetokounmpo Responds
The NBA revealed its Christmas Day game schedule for the upcoming season on Thursday night. There will be five contests, none of which will feature the Bucks:
- San Antonio Spurs vs. New York Knicks
- Minnesota Timberwolves vs. Dallas Mavericks
- Philadelphia 76ers vs. Boston Celtics
- Los Angeles Lakers vs. Golden State Warriors
- Denver Nuggets at Phoenix Suns
On Friday, Giannis Antetokounmpo posted his reaction to the Bucks not being scheduled to play in the Christmas Day game:
No Christmas game?! 😂😂
— Giannis Antetokounmpo (@Giannis_An34) August 9, 2024
The Bucks have played on Christmas Day every year since 2018. Giannis himself has been very good during that time, averaging 26.3 points, 12.5 rebounds and 4.7 assists per game over the Christmas period.
The Bucks are 3-3 on Christmas Day over the past six seasons but have lost two games in a row.
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