The Bucks have split their first four games inside the NBA’s Orlando campus since the seeding games got underway. Milwaukee is looking to build off last season when the eventual NBA champion Raptors bounced the Bucks from the Eastern Conference Finals.
With reigning league MVP Giannis Antetokounmpo in form, the Bucks should have a strong shot at reaching the Finals after coming short last season. As ESPN’s Tim Bontemps writes, Antetokounmpo does not see any single Eastern Conference squad as the ultimate roadblock, viewing the Bucks themselves as the key to determining how long their playoff run will last.
“I think the biggest challenge for us is ourselves,” Antetokounmpo said. “How are we going to play? How hard are we going to play? Are we going to play for one another? Are we going to defend hard? Are we going to be able to rebound the ball? Are we going to be able to make the extra effort? Are we going to dive on the floor?
“It’s all about us. It’s all about us.”
Milwaukee has already shown a resilient attitude, overcoming a 23-point margin against the Heat on Thursday en route to a 130-116 victory. In addition to being an impressive comeback, that win clinched the Bucks the No. 1 seed in the Eastern Conference.
Moving forward, the Bucks will have teams such as the Heat, Celtics and Raptors on the horizon looking for their own playoff success.
Heat and Celtics are playing small ball
Without 3 point luck they are not beating Bucks
Same thing
Without 3 point luck Rockets are not beating Clippers
Their biggest challenge is the Raptors, just like in 2019.
agreed. Raptors are dangerously good and extremely well coached. People underestimate the heart of a champion.
I agree with Giannis. They better wake up. They seem like they are cruising.
Giannis antetokounmpo statement above is all the reason to go to San Francisco. The Warriors do all those things. If he asked the question whether his teammates are willing to do all that stuff, then he knows his locker room and what their Tendencies are. He won’t have to worry about that with the Warriors. Just sayin.
I highly doubt that’s a legitimate concern. I don’t see Middleton or Bledsoe as players that would slack off when it matters most and Budenholzer does a good job keeping his players motivated. I think he’s just trying to challenge his teammates to stay competitive and avoid complacency after clinching the highest seed. Unless the Bucks manage to completely underachieve both seasons, I don’t see him leaving Milwaukee
I think Lopez & the 2G Cono’tn or Mathews has been purposed to defense and the offensive flow has suffered.
And they probably are waiting for games to matter.