The Boston Celtics and Denver Nuggets are having great seasons, but it’s clear that the Milwaukee Bucks are the best team in the NBA.
Looking at the standings, you can make arguments for the Boston Celtics or the Denver Nuggets being the best team in the NBA right now. However, I’d argue that it has now become clear. There is one team that should be considered the favorites to win the championship this season heading into the playoffs, but it’s neither the Celtics nor the Nuggets.
Instead, it’s the Milwaukee Bucks. The Bucks are currently just half-game back of the Celtics in the Eastern Conference standings but have barely been completely healthy this season. And, in fact, when they are healthy, they are practically unbeatable.
The Milwaukee Bucks are overwhelming when at full strength
Since Khris Middleton’s return from injury, the Bucks have won 13-straight games. Even when just Holiday and Giannis play, the Bucks are 32-9 this season. This is a completely different team when they have a full bill of health. And that should be a scary sight for every other team in the East right now.
And with Giannis Antetokounmpo playing at such a high level right now, you can bet that this team is just beginning to round into shape – and at just the right time.
The start of the playoffs is still roughly six weeks away, but this is the moment when teams begin to hit their stride. And the Bucks are looking more and more like they are. Milwaukee had been shaky throughout the season, going through phases of inconsistencies. However, this team is finally beginning to look like the championship favorite that many expected them to be at the start of the season.
And a big part of that is that the team is finally healthy.
It’s become quite clear that the only thing that could derail the Bucks now is injuries. And the unfortunate part of all of it is that there’s at least a small chance that it ends up falling that way. The Bucks have battled injuries for much of the season and while the hope is they will be completely healthy heading into the playoffs, that’s far from a guarantee.
If the Bucks are healthy, they are winning the NBA championship. If not, then it opens up for about three or four teams. The Bucks should be the favorites.