NBA: Ranking the top 10 contenders to begin the 2019-20 season
By Marc Sherman
4. Milwaukee Bucks
The Milwaukee Bucks finished the season with a league-leading record of 60-22. Head coach Mike Budenholzer was able to optimize the talent of the entire Bucks roster in his first season and earned himself Coach of The Year honors. Not to mention, in his lone season as a coach, Budenholzer was able to coach the MVP of the league, Giannis Antetokounmpo.
The Greek Freak’s game evolved last season as he reached elite-level status. In the 2018-19 season, Giannis, 24, averaged 27.7 points and 12.5 rebounds; numbers that compare to Shaquille O’Neal’s dominant years. He took a tremendous leap forward in terms of shooting and still has much room to grow.
He may be the first NBA MVP that still has a significant amount of growth left. If he can get his 3-point percentage to around the league average (35%) then he will, along with his team, remain completely unstoppable.
Milwaukee ranked fourth on the offensive side of the ball with a rating of 133.5 and first in defensive with a rating of 104.9.
The Bucks style of play perfectly fits the mold of this pace and space era. Players such as Kris Middleton, Eric Bledsoe, Brook Lopez, Wesley Mathews, and Kyle Korver, have all heavily benefited from this scheme.
The Eastern Conference’s first seed will look to remain atop the league with their balanced attack. The Bucks fell one series short of reaching the Finals by falling to Kawhi Leonard and the, soon to be champions, Raptors.
If Giannis can make the necessary improvements to follow up his MVP season, then Milwaukee has a high possibility of representing the East in the Finals and competing for a championship.