Contenders and Pretenders: Making sense of the NBA’s crowded field

Milwaukee Bucks

After claiming the Eastern Conference’s top seed and the NBA’s best record last season, the Milwaukee Bucks, led by league MVP Giannis Antetokounmpo, are likely to experience a great deal of regular-season success once again.

While the team lost a valuable piece in Malcolm Brogdon this offseason, it seems to have replaced his shooting by adding Kyle Korver and Wesley Matthews on veteran minimum contracts. All other key pieces are returning for next season, including All-Star forward Khris Middleton, who recently signed a five-year max contract and center Brook Lopez.

Of course, the most important development will be Giannis Antetokounmpo’s continued improvement. While the Greek Freak reached new heights last season, it is crucial that he develops a consistent jump shot if the Bucks hope to win a championship.

During this past season’s Eastern Conference Finals, Antetokounmpo was completely shut down in the paint by Kawhi Leonard and was simply left alone on the perimeter, effectively neutralized as an offensive threat. This allowed Toronto to win four straight games and claim the series in six.

However, with Leonard now in the Western Conference, Milwaukee looks to be the favorite to come out of the East. Furthermore, Antetokounmpo has shown improvement every year over the course of his NBA career. It is likely that he will show at least a marginal improvement in the consistency of his jump shot.

Even without such a development, Milwaukee may be able to win a championship. The roster certainly has enough talent. However, if Antetokounmpo elevates his game to an even greater degree, this team could be of the same caliber as the Lakers and Clippers.

Verdict: Contender