After winning 58 games in the 2022-23 regular season, the Milwaukee Bucks looked forward to a deep playoff run with hopes of becoming NBA champions. In round 1, they saw a familiar foe of the Miami Heat in their way, but last time they had played in the postseason (2021), it was a wash. The Bucks embarrassed the Heat in the 1st round.
The Heat flipped the switch, as the 8th seed who barely made it out of the Play-In embarrassed the Bucks this time, sending them home earlier much quicker than anybody could have expected. Out of nowhere, it felt like the Bucks were a team that would be contenders for not too much longer.
Coach Mike Budenholzer was fired. Their core of Giannis Antetokounmpo, Khris Middleton, Jrue Holiday, and Brook Lopez was seriously getting up there in age. They had one quality young player and few draft picks. How would they get out of this seemingly bad position where they only had seemingly one or two years of true contention left due to injury proneness, age, and bad postseason performances?
Introducing Damian Lillard.
Very quietly, Lillard is coming off of one of the best offensive seasons from a guard in league history, as he averaged 32.2 PPG (career-high) and 7.3 APG on a 64.5 TS% (career-high). Those are some absurd numbers that just did not get the recognition that they deserved because the Trail Blazers were a bad team last season.
That changes now. Giannis Antetokounmpo is by far (let me emphasize: by far) the best player that Lillard has ever played There’s an argument that Brook Lopez and Khris Middleton already slot into the second and third best players that Lillard has played with (shoutouts to LaMarcus Aldridge and CJ McCollum).
The duo of Antetokounmpo and Lillard is insane. You have perhaps the most dominant inside scorer of the last decade alongside one of the best shooters ever (and the best deep three point shooter ever). There will be more space than ever for these two superstars to both attack offensively.
The defensive support that Lillard will have will be a welcomed addition for him. Brook Lopez was 2nd in Defensive Player of the Year voting last season, while we all know what former DPOY Giannis Antetokounmpo can do on that end. Essentially what I’m getting at is this: the Bucks have the upside to have both the best offense and defense in the entire NBA.
The big two of Lillard and Antetokounmpo is the best duo in the league. The trio of Lillard, Antetokounmpo, and Middleton OR Lopez (take your choice!) is arguably the best trio in the league. And that big four is the league’s best big four. If you want star power, you absolutely have it right here.
Coming into the season pre-Lillard trade, the Bucks weren’t that deep of a team. And here’s the thing: all they gave up for Lillard was Jrue Holiday and Grayson Allen. The upgrade from Holiday to Lillard is immense, and all it took was Grayson Allen (and some picks). They can still slot Pat Connaughton or MarJon Beauchamp (given improvement) into the shooting guard.
Outside of Bobby Portis and one of those two shooting guard starters, there isn’t much to love off of the bench. Notable pieces include Jae Crowder, Malik Beasley, Robin Lopez, and Andre Jackson Jr.. It’s just not incredible.
Still, the Bucks are currently the odds on favorites to win the NBA title according to DraftKings, and it makes sense. This team has been elevated to another level, and this bet is one that I would certainly place with confidence. It’s time to fear the deer once again.
Charlie Spungin , NBA Analyst