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NBA: Way-too-early deep dive into the consensus top-5 championship favorites

By Ryan McCrary

DENVER, CO - MARCH 8: Nikola Jokic #15 and Jamal Murray #27 of the Denver Nuggets slap hands after a second half score against the Chicago Bulls at Ball Arena on March 8, 2023 in Denver, Colorado. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Dustin Bradford/Getty Images)
DENVER, CO - MARCH 8: Nikola Jokic #15 and Jamal Murray #27 of the Denver Nuggets slap hands after a second half score against the Chicago Bulls at Ball Arena on March 8, 2023 in Denver, Colorado. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Dustin Bradford/Getty Images) /
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Milwaukee Giannis Antetokounmpo (Photo by Megan Briggs/Getty Images)
Milwaukee Giannis Antetokounmpo (Photo by Megan Briggs/Getty Images) /

4. Milwaukee Bucks | +850

The Milwaukee Bucks were awesome last season, winning a league-best 58 games thanks to an MVP-caliber season from Giannis Antetokounmpo and their defense being one of the best in the NBA.

Unfortunately, their regular season success did not translate to the playoffs, as they suffered a brutal loss to the Miami Heat in the first round, leading to people questioning whether or not Giannis Antetokounmpo wants to stay in Milwaukee long-term. Despite the poor showing in the postseason and the questions regarding Giannis’s future, the Bucks enter the 2023 season as one of the favorites to win the championship.

The Bucks’ roster hasn’t changed much from last season. Their starting lineup is the same, and most of the players in their rotation were on the team when they won the championship in 2019. Since their roster isn’t changing very much, we can expect them to be one of the best teams in the league on both ends of the floor, especially if Khris Middleton can stay healthy, which was a major issue last season.

While the Bucks’ roster hasn’t experienced much turnover, they did lose Joe Ingles and Wesley Matthews in free agency. However, they made some big moves to replace them, signing Malik Beasley and Robin Lopez, which helps them retain their depth, which is a huge advantage they have over the other top teams in the NBA.

At their best, the Bucks are arguably the best team in the league due to their defensive prowess and their ability to shoot from behind the arc. Having one of the more unstoppable offensive players in the league who also happens to be a defensive juggernaut also helps. If their stars can stay healthy and play well in the playoffs, they can definitely make a deep playoff run and possibly win another ring this year.

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