NBA: 3 talking points heading into the second half of the season
By Quinn Allen
After bowing out in the Eastern Conference Finals last year against the Raptors, the Milwaukee Bucks have come back with a vengeance this season. Giannis Antetokounmpo has led the Bucks to an NBA-best 46-8 and they’re currently just twelve victories off their win total from all of last season with the whole second half still ahead.
After winning league MVP last year, the Greek Freak is continuing to solidify himself as one of the best all-around players in the league. We all know how upset Antetokounmpo was after their Conference Finals loss last season and he made it a mission to lead this team to an NBA title. Well if we look at the first half, they definitely look like the favorite as of right now. Antetokounmpo is averaging 30 points, 13.5 rebounds, and 5.8 dimes per contest.
He’s also attempting more 3-pointers than any other season and although he’s shooting just 31 percent from downtown, it’s an added component that makes his game even more deadly.
Khris Middleton and Eric Bledsoe are also having big years for the Bucks, averaging 20.4 and 15.7 points, respectively. With outstanding length in the Greek Freak and Brook Lopez, Milwaukee leads the NBA with 52 rebounds per game, while also scoring a league-best 119.6 points per night. They’re also in the top five in field goal percentage and blocks per contest.
To top it off, Mike Budenholzer’s team is first in defensive rating and fourth in offensive rating. They’re outscoring their opponents by 12.1 points per game as well, which is almost five points ahead of the Lakers, who beat their oppositions by an average of 7.4 points.
In every single category, the Bucks are solidifying themselves as a legitimate contender. They know exactly what it feels like to be on the cusp of an NBA Finals appearance as well, so the desire to go all the way will be massive.
Fear the Deer.