5. Milwaukee Bucks
The Milwaukee Bucks are beginning to hit their stride as a team. Damian Lillard appears to have found his rhythm so far this season and he's beginning to find a comfort zone within the offense. The Giannis Antetokounmpo and Lillard duo are starting to pay dividends and that is proving so through wins. The Bucks are quickly separating themselves into one of the best teams in the Eastern Conference. And the scary part is that they're only going to get better.
The real x-factor for the Bucks heading into the peak of the season revolves around Khris Middleton. At what point will the Bucks completely take the training wheels off of him? And when they do, can he prove to be durable and can he replicate the same impact he's had for the team over the last few seasons?
If Middleton can, the Bucks are going to be that much more of a threat to not only win the East but to win the 2024 NBA title. The Bucks will not be judged by anything they do in the regular season, it's all about playoff success for this team. For now, it's understandable that they cruise through the next few months.