2. Milwaukee Bucks
Even after a disappointing showing in last year’s NBA Playoffs, considering the team kept their core intact this offseason, it’s hard to look at the Milwaukee Bucks roster and not consider them one of the favorites to win the Eastern Conference this season. In fact, as long as Giannis Antetokounmpo and the rest of their key players can remain healthy, it would be shocking if they didn’t make at least a run to the conference finals this season. With the way things look in the conference at the moment, the Bucks are the clear second-best team in the East.
Giannis is still getting better and is probably the best player in the NBA at the moment. Khris Middleton, if he can avoid the injury bug, is also still a problem on the offensive end of the floor. And Jrue Holiday continues to be one of the most underrated two-way players in the NBA. With a new coach (Adrian Griffin), there’s a chance we could see the best Bucks team since they won their championship a few years ago.
Despite the sour ending to last season, I wouldn’t entirely sleep on the Bucks and their potential to bounce back in a big way this season.