Saturday Slam: What will Damian Lillard bring to the Milwaukee Bucks?

                                             (Credit: Mark J. Terrill/AP) 

The biggest off-season trade in the NBA was definitely the three-way deal between the Milwaukee Bucks, Portland Trail Blazers, and Phoenix Suns that sent Damian Lillard to Milwaukee. After spending 11 seasons with the Trail Blazers, it's a new chapter for Lillard's career. The Bucks won the NBA championship in 2021 and are hoping by adding Lillard into the fold they'll be able to get back on top. Lillard in turn is looking for his first NBA championship ring after years of coming up short in Rip City. 

As far as what he'll bring to the Bucks, Lillard will bring a reliable scoring punch that takes some pressure off of star forward Giannis Antetokounmpo. Giannis averaged 31.1 points, 11.8 rebounds, and 5.7 assists per game last season while Lillard averaged 32.2 points, 4.8 rebounds, and 7.3 assists per game. By having a second 30+ points per game guy, that will help Giannis not feel like he has to do as much and also allow him to focus on being a real force inside with Lillard being more of a perimeter threat. 

Lillard will not just take pressure off Giannis on the day-to-day scoring, but he'll also be a guy who they can go to in crunch time. While Giannis is great in the clutch, Lillard is one of the most clutch players the NBA has ever seen. Especially from 3-point range. If the Bucks are down by two with 24 seconds left and the ball, Lillard will become a great option to either take the game-winning shot or run some pick and roll action with Giannis. His presence on the floor should open things up a lot in that regard. 

The real key for the Bucks will be to make sure they keep Lillard healthy. He hasn't played 70+ games in a season since 2018-19 and actually, the same is true for Antetokounmpo. He too hasn't played 70+ games since 2018-19. If they are able to stay healthy and be in prime shape come the playoffs, they're going to be really difficult to stop. They should be the odds on favorite to come out of the East and possibly dethrone the Denver Nuggets, who I have as the favorites to come out of the West. 

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Saturday Slam: Milwaukee Bucks' Giannis Antetokounmpo has solidified himself as an all-time great

 

                                             (Credit: Getty Images) 

Before I shift my focus to the 2021-22 season, free agency, and all that good stuff, I want to stop and smell the flowers a bit by reflecting more on what Giannis Antetokounmpo has accomplished this past season. The young Milwaukee Bucks star brought back an NBA championship to Milwaukee for the first time in 50 years by taking out the Chris Paul/Devin Booker led Phoenix Suns in six games. In those six games, Antetokounmpo averaged a jaw-dropping 35.2 points, 13.2 rebounds, 5.0 assists, 1.2 steals, and 1.8 blocks per game en route to an NBA Finals MVP trophy. 

Immediately after securing the championship, Antetokounmpo was overcome with emotion. Tears were flowing down his face. You could tell that he was still processing everything that was happening around him. After he was able to compose himself and do an interview, he remarked that even if he never wins another NBA championship in Milwaukee, at least he got one. He accomplished the mission that he set out to accomplish. 

I would like to take Antetokounmpo's comment a step further. By winning this one championship in Milwaukee, Antetokounmpo has solidified himself as an all-time great. I don't know where he ranks among the greatest of the greats and quite honestly, it's too early to say where he ranks given that his career is far from over. But regardless of where he stacks up, it's safe to say that he is now one of the games' greatest all-time players. 

In this NBA Finals, we saw it all come together for "The Greek Freak." He was basically score at will inside, he was making huge defensive plays, he was crashing the boards, and was the most dominant player all series long. The only real weak spot for him was the foul shooting and 3-point shooting, but he was able to overcome those weaknesses by being such a dominant force inside the 3-point line and around the basket. When you got the physical gifts that he has and are able to put it together like he did inside, foul shooting and 3-point shooting don't become a huge concern. 

What makes this all the more impressive is this was his first trip to the NBA Finals. It would have been easy for him to choke and cave under the pressure given this was his first time on this big of a stage. Many of the all-time greats have done it themselves. Instead, he rose to the challenge and delivered a sublime performance that few have rivaled. 

Perhaps the best part of this whole story is how this all began for Antetokounmpo: Far away in Greece, first discovered as an intriguing yet raw talent picked 15th overall in the 2013 NBA Draft. Nobody saw him becoming the all-time great that he is today. I'm not even sure if he saw it coming. Yet with hard work, humility, and a commitment to keep getting better each and every day, Antetokounmpo has seen the fruits of his labors deliver the goods in a big-time way. 

While I have no doubt that this is only the beginning for Antetokounmpo and that he has the potential to win several more championships, I think it's important to reiterate that regardless of what happens from here on out, Antetokounmpo has emerged as one the greatest players to ever play the game. He brought an NBA championship back to a city that was long thirsting for one and he did so with humility, class, and pure greatness. 

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2021 NBA Finals Preview: Phoenix Suns vs. Milwaukee Bucks

                                                (Credit: clutchpoints.com) 

The 2021 NBA Finals begins on Tuesday and will feature a matchup that nobody on earth predicted at the start of the season: Phoenix Suns vs. Milwaukee Bucks. It's been a crazy journey for both of these teams to reach this point. Starting with the Suns, they took out the Lakers, Nuggets, and then Clippers to win the Western Conference crown. The Lakers were hobbled due to Anthony Davis not being at full strength, making them a vulnerable opponent. The Nuggets were without their star Jamal Murray, but they did have 2021 NBA MVP Nikola Jokic on their side. Jokic just wasn't able to do it all on his own in the end. As for the Clippers, Paul George and co. put up a real fight, but the absence of Kawhi Leonard also proved to be too much. 

As for the Bucks, they went through the Heat, Nets, and Hawks. The Heat were led by Jimmy Butler like last year, but they weren't able to recapture the magic they had in the bubble a year ago. The Nets had injury issues of their own with Kyrie Irving and James Harden missing some time. Kevin Durant played incredible basketball, but once again, it's a team sport and one man can't do it all on his own. As for the Hawks, they played really well as a team and had Trae Young not gotten injured, they might have reached the NBA Finals. 

The commonality in both the Western Conference and Eastern Conference brackets is that injuries played a big role in how things turned out. However, that isn't to say that the Suns and Bucks didn't have injury issues of their own. The Suns had to deal with Chris Paul missing action due to COVID protocols and Devin Booker had a busted nose. As for the Bucks, they've been without Giannis Antetokounmpo for the last two games due to a hyperextended knee and while there is no structural damage to his knee, it is unclear when he'll be back. Hopefully for Tuesday's Game 1. 

Ultimately, when looking at this upcoming Suns/Bucks series, a lot hinges on the health of Antetokounmpo. If he's healthy, the Bucks have a real shot to knock off the Suns due to their depth, length, and 3-point shooting. Khris Middleton has been a really nice number two option for them, shooting it well from the perimeter and giving Giannis the help that he needs. On top of that, veteran big man Brook Lopez and veteran guard Jrue Holiday have been playing well. The pieces around Antetokounmpo are definitely there. But he has to be present. 

As for the Suns, they appear to be pretty healthy right now. Paul is back from his COVID hiatus and while having a busted nose isn't fun, Booker hasn't been affected much by it. He also seems to pretty much be back from the injury anyways. Big man Deandre Ayton is getting it done inside (E.g. Valley-oop) and is giving the Suns the interior presence that they need. 

At this point, I do have to give the Suns the edge to win this series. They're the healthier team at the moment and they do have home court advantage. The NBA championship goes through Phoenix and not Milwaukee. Plus, it just feels like it's Chris Paul's time. He's paid his dues and he has the entire Suns team playing really good basketball. Everyone is feeding off his energy and I think everyone is extra fueled by the possibility of helping the great CP3 finally get a ring. 

In regard to how many games this series goes, I think if Giannis is able to go for the entire series, Suns win in 7. If he misses multiple games, then we could be looking at Suns in 5 or 6 games. After seeing such an injury ridden NBA playoffs, it would be nice to at least have an NBA Finals that features the best players of both teams. Hopefully the basketball world gets what they want. 

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Wednesday Windmill: How should the Milwaukee Bucks approach the rest of the regular season?

                                             (Credit: Morry Gash/Associated Press)

On Tuesday, I addressed the Los Angeles Lakers and how they should approach the rest of the regular season and now I'm going to do the same for the top team in the Eastern Conference, the Milwaukee Bucks. Like the Lakers, the Bucks pretty much have the top seed in their conference locked up, so they too have the luxury to view the rest of the regular season as additional tuneups before the playoffs.

Unlike the Lakers, however, they don't have anyone on their team who has led a team to a title. While LeBron James has been through the fire and knows what it takes, Bucks superstar Giannis Antetokounmpo is still in the process of figuring out how to lead a team to a championship. Giannis is once again having a fantastic season, averaging 29.6 points, 13.7 rebounds, 5.8 assists, 1.0 steals, and 1.0 blocks per game. He's the best player in the game and certainly has all the potential to bring a championship back to Milwaukee.

As they look ahead to their eight seeding games, the Bucks too need to figure out how to handle the rest versus rust debate. They don't want any of their key players (especially Giannis) to get injured, but at the same time, given the amount of time they've had off, they also don't want their players to get too rusty. It's the age old question that gets asked every year in the NBA and especially the NFL, and every team handles it differently.

For the Lakers, I said they should be all systems go aside from perhaps limiting Anthony Davis' minutes due to him having a history of getting hurt. As for the Bucks, they don't really have that same concern. Giannis has been pretty healthy his whole career as has their number two scorer Khris Middleton (21.1 points per game). Obviously, proper precautions should be made to not play either guy in garbage time and I do think it probably would be wise to not play either guy 40+ minutes a night during these seeding games. The Bucks shouldn't completely throw their caution to the wind when it comes to keeping them healthy.

At the same time, given the nature of this season and how there is no home court advantage (except for the Orlando Magic, sort of), the Bucks do need to do all they can to regain the momentum they had before the break happened and reestablish themselves as the top team in the NBA. I think putting minutes restrictions on Giannis and Middleton (30-35 minutes) would be perfect as it would allow them to get a good run in without overexerting themselves. Eight games isn't that many and before they know it, they'll be forced to enter playoff mode in a setting that no top seed has ever had to experience. It'll be interesting to see how things go for Milwaukee as they go about navigating this most unusual season.

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Saturday Slam: How should the 2020 NBA champion be viewed?

The 2019-20 NBA season is tentatively scheduled to resume on July 31st with an NBA Finals ending on October 12th at the latest. The NBA Draft will be October 15th, free agency will start October 18th, 2020-21 training camp November 10th, and the 2020-21 season starting December 1st. These dates are per ESPN's Adrian Wojnarowski.

The rest of the season is tentatively set to be played at Walt Disney World Resort in Orlando, Florida. All 16 current NBA playoff teams plus six additional teams that are within six games of the final playoff spot in their conference will make up a 22 team field. There is some discussion about what the other eight teams that aren't invited will be doing. At the moment, nothing is planned, but it is possible that they get allowed to do some joint workouts together or form their own summer league kinda thing. For more details on what the rest of the season will look like, click here.

The big question that I think is yet to be addressed much is how should the 2020 NBA champion be viewed? It's a unique season in that the champion will be determined at a neutral site location. Home court advantage won't be a factor. This of course means that lower seeded teams gain an advantage while higher seeded teams are put at a disadvantage. There is some discussion of giving higher seeds other advantages like an extra challenge or an extra foul for their best player, but let's be real, nothing the league can do can make up for home court advantage. Probably the best thing the league can do is give the higher seed a three point advantage in each game or something like that. But that would still feel kinda weird and artificial.

Personally, I think there's no way around the fact that there will be somewhat of an asterisk next to whatever team wins the 2020 NBA championship. Especially if it's a team that comes out of nowhere to win it. I think if one of the higher seeded teams wins it, there will be less of an asterisk, but if a five or six seeded team wins the title, there will be a greater asterisk for sure. I don't think it's totally fair as the playoffs will be played in a traditional best-of-seven format all the way through, but it is what it is.

On the flip side, one could argue that winning in this format and season is even harder and that it will require an even greater mental fortitude. Everyone is given the same set of challenges and whichever team prevails certainly will deserve credit. There also won't be the stink of home cooking from officials, so that in a way will make the games feel more legitimate.

Also, the NBA has had champions in unusual seasons before. The 1998-99 lockout season was a 50 game season in which the top seeded Western Conference team San Antonio Spurs defeated the eighth seeded Eastern Conference team New York Knicks in the NBA Finals. One could just as easily put an asterisk next to the Spurs' 1999 championship. At the time, I think there was some discussion about that, but as time has gone on, that championship has been viewed as legitimate. I think in part because of the fact that the Spurs went on to win four more NBA championships.

I think when it comes to how the 2020 NBA champion will be judged, I think a lot of it will come down to which team wins it and how that team does in subsequent seasons. If say the Milwaukee Bucks win the title and go on to win a few more afterwards with Giannis Antetokounmpo at the helm, I think the 2020 NBA champion will be still be remembered as an oddity, but there won't be much of an asterisk if any next to their name. If instead, a team like the Indiana Pacers shock the world, odds are greater there will be more scrutiny.

Regardless of how the 2020 NBA champion will be viewed, I think it's safe to say that this season will be one to remember and hopefully the most unique season in league history. While I do think odds are high that there will be at least a tiny asterisk next to the champion, I really don't think there should be one. Winning an NBA championship is not easy and if you are able to survive that grind and get across that finish line, you deserve to be remembered as a champion no matter how you got the job done.

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Wednesday Windmill: The Philadelphia 76ers gave the Milwaukee Bucks coal for Christmas

                                         (Credit: Eric Hartline/USA TODAY Sports) 

On Christmas Day, the Philadelphia 76ers put the wood to the Milwaukee Bucks, defeating them 121-109. The 76ers hit a franchise record 21 3-pointers as Joel Embiid (31 points & 11 rebounds) and Tobias Harris (22 points) led the way. The 76ers improve to 23-10 while the Bucks fall to 27-5.

If you follow the NBA, you know the 76ers are good, so seeing them win against the Bucks at home shouldn't come as a shock. What is surprising though is the way in which they won. The 76ers aren't known to be much of a 3-point shooting team, so to see them go wild like they did from beyond the arc took everyone by surprise. Especially the Bucks.

As an extension of that, seeing them win so convincingly was surprising. Had they won by five points or fewer, one might even say that's what we should expect from a quality team playing at home on Christmas. But for them to dominate the Bucks and blow them out is another matter.

Even though this is just one game, the 76ers definitely sent a message to the Bucks and the rest of the Eastern Conference that they are a force to be reckoned with. That if they play like this with more regularity, they might represent the East in the NBA Finals.

Touching quickly on the Bucks, this game is disappointing, but nothing to get overly upset about. If you're them, you have to chalk this up as a bad game that you'll learn from. The Bucks have the best record in the NBA and should feel confident in their body of work. They also have the best player in the NBA in Giannis Antetokounmpo and are still the odds on favorites to win the East. No reason for them to freak out. Just move on to the next game and do a better job defending the perimeter.

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Wednesday Windmill: The Milwaukee Bucks are lighting up the East

                                         (Quinn Harris/Getty Images) 

The Milwaukee Bucks currently sit atop the Eastern Conference standings with an 18-3 record, having won 12 straight games. That's their best winning streak since the 1981-82 season. Giannis Antetokounmpo leads this Bucks team with 30.8 points, 13.4 rebounds, 5.8 assists, 1.4 steals, and 1.3 blocks per game, truly living up to his nickname: "The Greek Freak."

In an Eastern Conference that has appeared to be wide open, the Bucks are coming out and reminding everyone that they are the team to beat. They had home court advantage last year and are eager to reclaim it once again. Even though it's only December, the Bucks are making a definitive statement with this winning streak. I don't care what month it is. Having a double digit winning streak is mighty impressive.

The main question surrounding this Bucks team is whether or not Giannis can keep up at this frenetic pace for the entire season. If he can, the Bucks will be playing in June. If not, their lack of depth could hurt them. They lost a really good shooting guard in Malcolm Brogdon to the Indiana Pacers and it's unclear if they will be able to make up the difference in the long run. So far, it appears to be working out, but the season is still young.

The other question is whether or not they'll be able to handle the pressure come playoff time if they do get home court advantage. Regular season success is one thing while playoff success is another. Right now, the Bucks are showing that they are a great regular season team, but as we've seen in NBA history, being great in the regular season doesn't always translate to playoff success. Just ask the 2006-07 Dallas Mavericks and 2001-02 Sacramento Kings.

Regardless, what the Bucks are doing deserves recognition. They have the best winning streak in the NBA and are on track to rack up at least a few more wins before it ends. While it may seem like a cute little mantra, "Fear the Deer" carries real meaning in today's NBA.

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Wednesday Windmill: Can either the Milwaukee Bucks or Toronto Raptors take out the Golden State Warriors?

At the moment, the Milwaukee Bucks and Toronto Raptors are engaged in an epic series that is tied 2-2. The home team has won every game, which means we're on track for a Game 7 in Milwaukee. While these two teams fight for Eastern Conference supremacy, the Golden State Warriors are relaxing and waiting to see who they'll face in the NBA Finals. Given how dominant the Warriors have been, it's fair to ask whether or not it matters who they'll face. What I want to do in this blog post is quickly breakdown what threat each team poses and what the odds are that they actually take out the Warriors.

Starting with the Bucks, one thing they'll have to their advantage should they reach the NBA Finals is home court advantage (the Raptors will have this as well). Should they win Game 1 of the series, they'll have around 85% odds to win the series and should the series go to a Game 7, they'll have around 80% odds to win. These numbers are based on NBA playoff history as a whole. I wasn't able to find the exact numbers for the NBA Finals. Whatever the exact numbers are, the bottom line is having home court advantage is nice. If you can defend home court in Game 1, history says you'll win. If you host a Game 7 on your home floor, history also says you'll win.

Aside from the home court, the Bucks do have perhaps the best player in the game in Giannis Antetokounmpo, who is a matchup nightmare for whatever team they face. The Warriors will have a difficult time taking out the Bucks because of Giannis alone. He handles the ball extremely well in transition, can play multiple positions, and is exactly what his nickname bills him to be. He's a freak.

When you add guys like Brook Lopez, Malcolm Brogdon, Eric Bledsoe, Nikola Mirotic, Khris Middleton, and George Hill to the mix, you have a team that's going to be a tough out. This Bucks teams has a lot of depth and that more than anything could make the difference.

As for the Raptors, aside from the home court advantage that I touched on earlier, it all boils down to whether or not Kawhi Leonard can stay healthy. If he's healthy, they got a shot. Especially since they have a solid supporting cast of their own in Kyle Lowry, Marc Gasol, Serge Ibaka, Pascal Siakam, Danny Green, and Fred VanVleet. Leonard is also in discussion for best player in the game and when he gets going, the Raptors should feel like they can beat any team in the league.

I still have my money on the Warriors to win the NBA championship, but it's not going to be easy. They'll have to go on the road and win in very hostile environments to get home court advantage on their side. The best thing they can hope for is that this series goes the distance and that their opponent will be fatigued and a bit banged up from the Eastern Conference Finals.

Now what you're probably hoping for is my prediction for this Bucks-Raptors series. I think it could go either way, but I still have the Bucks pulling it out. They have home court advantage on their side and I have a tough time seeing the Raptors win four straight games. This one is probably going the distance and in a Game 7, you gotta roll with the home team.

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Saturday Slam: What to look for in the 2019 NBA playoffs

The NBA playoffs begin on Saturday and rather than previewing each series, I wanted to provide a quick primer for the playoff as a whole, listing key things to look for. Before I begin my primer though, let me quickly list each series for those that aren't aware:

In the Eastern Conference, the top seeded Milwaukee Bucks face the eight seeded Detroit Pistons; the two seeded Toronto Raptors face the seven seeded Orlando Magic; the three seeded Philadelphia 76ers face the six seeded Brooklyn Nets; and the four seeded Boston Celtics face the five seeded Indiana Pacers. Out West, the top seeded Golden State Warriors face the eight seeded Los Angeles Clippers; the two seeded Denver Nuggets face the seven seeded San Antonio Spurs; the three seeded Portland Trail Blazers face the six seeded Oklahoma City Thunder; and the four seeded Houston Rockets face the five seeded Utah Jazz. One thing that is kinda comical is the Magic won the Southeast Division with a 42-40 record.

Can the Milwaukee Bucks navigate through their injuries? Last week, I went into more detail on this topic, so click here to check it out if you want those details. If you want the condensed version, here is the lowdown: Malcolm Brogdon (foot) remains out without a firm timetable while Nikola Mirotic (thumb) could possibly make his return in Sunday's Game 1 against the Pistons. Others are also out as well, but those are the two main guys to watch for. If they can get healthy, there's no reason to pick against this Bucks team to come out of the East. Giannis Antetokounmpo is the best player in the conference and appears ready to make a deep playoff run. 

Unlike the Bucks, the Golden State Warriors are entering the playoffs pretty healthy. Kevin Durant, Stephen Curry, Klay Thompson, and DeMarcus Cousins are all in good shape while Draymond Green is day-to-day with a knee injury. This Warriors team is once again the most talented team in the NBA with a plethora of weapons. 

As has been the case for the past few years, it'll be interesting to see who gives the Warriors the most trouble. Teams that come to mind in that department are the Houston Rockets, Utah Jazz, and Milwaukee Bucks. The Rockets because of how close they were last year, the Utah Jazz because of their style, and the Bucks because of Antetokounmpo. Outside of those three teams, I don't see anyone giving the Warriors a serious scare. Fortunately for the Warriors, the Rockets and Jazz face off in the first round, so they'll only have to face one of those two teams assuming they get out of the first round. 

The Toronto Raptors got Kawhi Leonard specifically for this time of year. They wanted someone to get them over the hump and lead them to championship glory. They didn't feel they had the weapons before, so it's really put up or shut up time for them. If the Raptors can't get it done this year or at least reach the conference finals, they should just blow the whole thing up and go full blown tank mode. 

The Denver Nuggets have had a fabulous regular season and are well positioned to make a deep playoff run by securing the number two seed in the West. Paul Millsap is balling out and Nikola Jokic is one of the most versatile bigs in the NBA. The issue is they haven't really been through the fire yet. It'll be interesting to see how much damage this Nuggets team can do and whether or not they can become one of the teams to give the Warriors a serious run.

The Boston Celtics were picked by many to come out of the East after giving the Cavaliers such a scare last year. Instead, they've slipped and regressed. For them, they have to view the playoffs as a chance to hit the reset button. Kyrie Irving, Al Horford, Jayson Tatum, Jaylen Brown, and Gordon Hayward form a really talented core that has the potential to make a deep run and come out of the East. It's just a matter of them putting it all together. One thing to look for is how they manage without Marcus Smart, who is dealing with an oblique injury. He is expected to miss at least a month of action.

Last season, the Houston Rockets were one healthy Chris Paul hamstring away from winning the Western Conference crown. Similar to the Celtics, they've regressed a bit from last year but still find themselves in the playoffs. If they can get past a tough Utah team, they'll get another crack at the Warriors only with a healthier CP3 (hopefully). If James Harden is able to go wild and Paul is healthy, it'll be interesting to see what they can do.

The Philadelphia 76ers have a different look from last year with the addition of Jimmy Butler, but whether or not it's better will be determined by how they do in the playoffs. Joel Embiid and Ben Simmons are the face of this team, but Butler is the big acquisition that is supposed to help them get over the hump. How much Butler affects them for good or for bad will be something to watch in these playoffs.

Finally, I want to quickly address my favorite team, the Utah Jazz. As a quick side note not related to the playoffs, do read Kyle Korver's piece in The Players' Tribune about white privilege if you have not already done so. I wanted to write a more in-depth piece about it, but I didn't find the time to do so. Let me just say it's excellent and worth the read. Click here to check that out.

As far as the playoffs are concerned, the Jazz are another team that have appeared to regress a bit after having an exciting 2018 season. That all said, they too find themselves in the playoffs with a chance to make some noise. What will be important to look for is if Donovan Mitchell and Rudy Gobert can step up and establish themselves as a legit one-two punch. Mitchell is an explosive scorer that can create for others while Gobert is a fabulous shot blocker, rebounder, and rim-runner. These two guys are the future of the franchise and need to play like it.

One final note is that Ricky Rubio (quad) and Kyle Korver (knee) are both out indefinitely. When they're able to return is something to keep a close eye on if you're a Jazz fan.

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Saturday Slam: Can the Milwaukee Bucks navigate through their injuries?

The Milwaukee Bucks have clinched the top record in the NBA, giving them home court advantage all the way through the NBA Finals. It's been an historic season in Milwaukee and after years and years of rebuilding, they're finally starting to see the fruits of their labors. If you've been reading NBALord.com over the years, you would know that I've always believed in the trajectory of this Bucks team and that it would only be a matter of time before they seriously contend for a championship. They're young, hungry, and have a legitimate franchise player in Giannis Antetokounmpo, who is putting himself in the MVP discussion with his 27.7 points, 12.5 rebounds, 5.9 assists, 1.3 steals, and 1.5 blocks per game. They have all the pieces.

The only concern right now for this Bucks team is health. Malcolm Brogdon (15.6 points & 4.5 rebounds) is out indefinitely with a foot injury, Nikola Mirotic (15.2 points & 7.4 rebounds) is out for at least a couple more weeks due to a fractured thumb, Tony Snell (6.0 points) is out indefinitely with a sprained ankle, Pau Gasol (3.9 points) is out indefinitely with a left ankle injury, and Donte DiVincenzo (4.9 points) is out for the rest of the season with a heel injury. The losses of Brogdon and Mirotic are the most significant, but when you add three more guys to the injury report as well, that really starts to take its toll.

Fortunately for the Bucks, they have that top seed and Antetokounmpo is healthy, so they should be able to get out of the first round of the playoffs regardless. That said, at this time of year, you want to be as healthy as possible since injuries could still loom ahead in the playoffs. Plus, even if these guys do all come back (aside from DiVincenzo), it's not yet clear how productive they'll be.

The Bucks are sort of in a weird spot. They should be feeling good about clinching the top seed in the NBA and yet at the same time be worried about the accumulation of injuries. With the way the NBA playoffs are structured, it's not only the best teams that come out on top, it's the healthiest. We saw that last year when Chris Paul's hamstring cost the Houston Rockets a trip to the NBA Finals.

At this point, all the Bucks can do is make sure they get through the first round as efficiently as possible. If they're able to get more rest and not have an elongated opening series, chances are they'll be able to have a relatively healthy squad come the second round. If instead they have a series that gets pushed to six or heaven forbid seven games, they could be looking at an early exit, even if they manage to squeak out of the first round. It'll be interesting to see how they handle things in the coming days and weeks.

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Wednesday Windmill: It's officially time to Fear the Deer

"Fear the Deer" is the mantra of the Milwaukee Bucks and while fun to say, it has been hard to take seriously over the years. This year is different, though. With the best record in the NBA (32-12) and also the best home record in the NBA (20-4), the Bucks are finally a team to be feared. Especially by those in the Eastern Conference. 

The secret to the Bucks' success begins and ends with Giannis Antetokounmpo, who is averaging 26.4 points, 12.5 rebounds, 6.0 assists, 1.5 blocks, and 1.4 steals per game on 58.0% shooting from the field and 70.0% shooting from the foul line. What's scary is that he's shooting an abysmal 17.0% from 3-point range. Once he gets that part figured out, it's gonna be lights out for the rest of the NBA. 

                                          (Credit: Vaughn Ridley/Getty Images)

Accompanying the "Greek Freak" are Khris Middleton (17.5 points & 5.8 rebounds), Malcolm Brogdon (15.5 points & 4.6 rebounds), and Eric Bledsoe (15.3 points & 5.6 assists), who are all very talented scorers. While not the flashiest of players, they're very consistent and always bring it every night, contributing to the Bucks' consistent play. When you combine an elite superstar with solid role players, you have a recipe for success. 

When looking at their team stats, what makes the Bucks good is their efficiency. They rank 4th in the NBA in field goal percentage (48.0%), 2nd in 3-point field goals (13.4), 1st in rebounds (49.1) and 5th in assists (26.7). For those that like advanced stats, the Bucks rank 6th in pace (102.7), 2nd in true shooting percentage (58.5%), 2nd in effective field goal percentage (55.3%), 4th in offensive rating (114.0), tied for 1st in defensive rating (104.3), and 1st in Pythagorean wins (34.0). 

In case any of that jargon confuses you, the bottom line is this Bucks team is really good. They're young, fearless, and they have the best up and coming player in the NBA in Giannis Antetokounmpo. With the way they're playing, they have to be considered the favorites to come out of the Eastern Conference and challenge the Golden State Warriors in the NBA Finals. In the past, "Fear the Deer" has just been a fun thing to say, but this year, it's no joke. 

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NBALord.com Central Division Preview

Up next in my division preview series is the Central Division, home to the Chicago Bulls, Indiana Pacers, Detroit Pistons, Cleveland Cavaliers, and Milwaukee Bucks.

After years of rebuilding and putting the right pieces together, the Milwaukee Bucks finally appear to have a team capable of doing some serious damage. They're 8-2 at the moment and anything but a fluke. Giannis Antetokounmpo is averaging 26.1 points, 13.9 rebounds, and 5.9 assists per game on 53.6% shooting from the field, making him one of the most dangerous players in the NBA. In addition to "The Greek Freak", Khris Middleton is averaging 19.2 points and 5.1 rebounds per game on 49.3% shooting from 3-point range while guards Eric Bledsoe and Malcolm Brogdon give the Bucks some additional weapons in the back court.

What is perhaps most remarkable about the Bucks' 8-2 start is the fact that they're doing this without Jabari Parker, who signed a two-year, $40M contract with the Chicago Bulls last summer.  Parker was viewed as an integral part of their future and for them to be playing such stellar basketball with him no longer a part of their plans is a testament to how good "The Greek Freak" is and also how smart their front office is. Most teams would have had a hard time parting ways with a guy of Parker's caliber, but the Bucks' recognized they could succeed without him and appear to have no reason to second guess their decision.

With the Eastern Conference wide open, the Bucks have to be viewed as serious contenders to reach the NBA Finals. Gianni Antetokounmpo is arguably the best player in the NBA and he seems ready to lead his team deep in the playoffs. This is undoubtedly shaking up to be the most exciting season in Milwaukee in a very long time.

Led by Victor Oladipo, the Indiana Pacers have one of the more balanced and deep teams in the NBA. In addition to Oladipo, who is averaging 22.5 points per game, the Pacers have five players scoring in double figures per game (Thaddeus Young, Bojan Bogdanovic, Myles Turner, Domantas Sabonis, and Tyreke Evans). This depth and balance allows them to compete with teams that have more talented players.

Where the Pacers really do damage is with their efficient shooting and ability to force turnovers. They are 4th in the NBA in field goal percentage (49.3%) and tied for 6th in steals (8.5 steals per game). They do a really good job of finding easy baskets for one another, making them tough to stop when they have the ball.

While the Pacers are not a team picked to reach the NBA Finals, they do have the pieces to win a series and make some noise in the playoffs. Especially if they are able to get home court advantage for the first round and stay healthy. Few teams have the depth and balance that they have, making them one of the more intriguing teams in the NBA.

The Detroit Pistons are led by Blake Griffin, who so far seems to be enjoying his time in the motor city. Griffin is averaging 28.6 points and 10.9 rebounds per game this season while Andre Drummond is averaging 17.6 points and 15.4 rebounds. Together, Griffin and Drummond form a very formidable front court, making it hard for any team to get rebounds and find success in the paint.

The problem for the Pistons is their lack of depth. Reggie Jackson is a nice player as is Ish Smith, but after that it really starts to tail off. The Pistons need one more weapon in order to be really competitive. The hope for them has been that Stanley Johnson will be that additional weapon, but so far he doesn't appear to be up to the task.

With Griffin and Drummond at the helm, the Pistons should be in the mix to make a playoff appearance, but that's the extent to which I see them succeeding. Those guys simply need more help and right now they don't have it.

Zach LaVine is having a really nice season for the Chicago Bulls, averaging 26.6 points and 5.1 rebounds per game while Jabari Parker is averaging 14.3 points and 6.1 rebounds per game. The Bulls hope that with LaVine and Parker as their core for the future, they can start to move in the right direction.

While they do have some promising pieces like Justin Holiday and Wendell Carter, Jr. in addition to LaVine and Parker, this Bulls team is too young to make any noise this season. They have some growing pains to go through this season before they see the fruit of their labors.

For the Bulls, the main thing to see is if LaVine and Parker can both stay healthy. They've had injury issues in the past, casting doubt on their abilities to carry a franchise. If they are able to play the bulk of the games without incurring any serious injury, it should be a good season in the Windy City regardless of what the team's record is.

In the post-LeBron James era, the Cleveland Cavaliers are expected to struggle. They decided to fire Tyronn Lue early in the season and Kevin Love is out for an extended period of time due to a toe/foot problem. Such a combination is certain to yield a lot of losses. So long as Love is out, this team is going to struggle to find any sort of identity as he is the best player they have.

The main thing to look for this year in Cleveland is how well rookie point guard Collin Sexton performs and who else looks like a good piece to put around him. A combination of Kevin Love and Collin Sexton could be intriguing, but they aren't enough to make this team competitive. They need some pieces around them.

I personally see this as a year of cleaning house in Cleveland. Tyronn Lue won't be the last to go. They'll probably look to find trading partners for J.R. Smith and Tristan Thompson and hope to get some assets back that they can use to build for the future. Whether or not they'll find any takers remains to be seen, but they should at least try.

What's frustrating for the Cavaliers is they are cellar dwellers again, but at least they won a championship in the LeBron James era. They've overall had a good run, but now it's time for them to start from scratch and build a team that can once again compete.

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Saturday Slam: Five likely landing spots for Jimmy Butler

                                          (Mike Ehrmann/Getty Images) 

Earlier this week on NBALord.com, I addressed the tension growing between Timberwolves star Jimmy Butler and head coach Tom Thibodeau. Since that article was published on Tuesday, multiple reports have surfaced that confirm that the Timberwolves will indeed look to move Butler and that he will not be present at team media day on Monday.

Sources: Minnesota owner Glen Taylor has made it clear to President/Coach Tom Thibodeau and GM Scott Layden that Jimmy Butler's on the trade block and Taylor wants the front office moving to find a deal. Taylor is pushing for a fast resolution.

— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) September 23, 2018

All-Star Jimmy Butler has been granted permission to not participate in Minnesota Timberwolves‘ media day on Monday, league sources tell me and @JonKrawczynski.

— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) September 22, 2018

Personally, I think the Timberwolves should entertain the possibility of firing Thibodeau if that will keep Butler around, but it does not look like they are going to go that route. With that being the case, below are five likely landing spots for Butler.

#1. Los Angeles Clippers: There have been additional reports that Jimmy Butler would prefer to get traded to the Los Angeles Clippers. He likes Los Angeles and the Clippers are in need of a new superstar to build around.  The Clippers also have some assets that the Timberwolves might like such as Tyrone Wallace, Lou Williams, and rookie Shai Gilgeous-Alexander. If the Timberwolves want to get rid of Butler as quickly as possible, the Clippers should be the first team they call.

#2. Milwaukee Bucks: Butler played his college ball at Marquette in Milwaukee, so going to the Bucks would be a homecoming of sorts for him. I don't know if a duo of Giannis Antetokounmpo and Butler would be enough to get the Bucks to the NBA Finals, but it would certainly be interesting to find out.

#3. Los Angeles Lakers: If Butler wants to go to Los Angeles, the Lakers are the only other alternative to the Clippers. What makes the Lakers a likely landing spot for Butler is they have a ton of assets to offer and are in desperate need of another superstar to pair with LeBron James. A duo of James and Butler would wreak some serious havoc in the Western Conference. They'd be instant contenders.

#4. New York Knicks:  The New York Knicks are rumored to be on Butler's list of preferred destinations and they could really use another superstar to pair with Kristaps Porzingis. If the Knicks can land Butler, they'll definitely be cooking with gas at Madison Square Garden. I don't know how good they'd be, but they'd be an instant playoff team in the Eastern Conference.

#5. Brooklyn Nets: The Brooklyn Nets are also rumored to be on Butler's list of preferred destinations and they are in desperate need of a superstar. On top of that, they have the space to sign him. Like Chicago and New York, an added bonus of trading Butler to Brooklyn is that he'd be out of the conference. The Timberwolves are probably hesitant to help out a team that they might end up facing in the playoffs, upping the odds of Butler getting shipped out East.

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Wednesday Windmill: Taking a quick look at the Eastern Conference playoff picture

With the NBA regular season wrapping up on April 10th, I thought it would also be a good idea to take a quick look at where things sit in the Eastern Conference playoff picture as we head into the final week of the regular season. Things are a bit more settled in the Eastern Conference, but teams are still battling for position and seeding with the 8th seed still up for grabs.

Who's clinched 

At the moment, seven teams have clinched a playoff spot in the Eastern Conference: Toronto Raptors (55-22), Boston Celtics (53-24), Cleveland Cavaliers (48-30), Philadelphia 76ers (47-30), Indiana Pacers (46-31), Miami Heat (42-36), and Washington Wizards (42-36).

As you can see, it is a bit tiered among the teams who have cliched. The Raptors and Celtics are in a battle for first place while the Cavaliers, 76ers, and Pacers are battling to get home court advantage in the first round. As for the Heat and Wizards, their primary focus is to avoid the 8th seed. If they can get the 6th seed, they'll put themselves in a position to possibly pull off a first round upset. Especially if they're not having to face the Cavaliers, who despite a rocky regular season are still the favorites to come out of the Eastern Conference.

The most interesting race is who gets home court advantage between the Cavaliers, 76ers, and Pacers. While the Cavaliers are favored to come out of the East, that could change if they don't get home court advantage in the first round. Even with LeBron James, they'll still be putting themselves behind the eight ball if they have to go on the road in their first series.

As for the race for the top seed, with Kyrie Irving out for the rest of the regular season, it's unlikely that the Celtics catch the Raptors for the top seed. At this point, the main focus for the Celtics is to make sure everyone else on their team stays healthy and doesn't get hurt before the playoffs start. Even without home court advantage, the Celtics should like their chances against the Raptors in a series, assuming Kyrie Irving is healthy.

Who's expected to clinch 

The Milwaukee Bucks sit in the 8th spot with a 42-36 record, the same record as the 7th seeded Wizards. For whatever reason, the Bucks haven't yet mathematically clinched, but all signs point to them doing so. The Bucks are more in the mode of improving their seed and trying to avoid the 8th seed. That said, the Raptors are as vulnerable of a top seed as you'll see in the NBA playoffs. Maybe the Bucks like where they sit and have no issue with going into Toronto to start the playoffs.

Who's mathematically alive 

Despite being 37-40, the Detroit Pistons are still mathematically alive. They obviously need the Bucks to totally collapse and on top of that they need to win out. The Pistons' remaining schedule is as follows: vs. Philadelphia, vs. Dallas, @Memphis, vs. Toronto, and @Chicago. Given that they need to win all of these games and do so without Blake Griffin (right ankle contusion), I think this is as good of a schedule as they could really ask for. I don't see the Pistons making the playoffs, but if they can win all of their remaining games, you never know.

What hurts is that the Bucks' schedule isn't  too bad: vs. Brooklyn, @New York, vs. Orlando, and @Philadelphia. It's really hard to envision Giannis Antetokounmpo letting his team down during this final week. If he has a big game even once, the Bucks will find themselves in the playoffs.

Predictions

In regards to how this all shakes out, I think the Bucks will clinch the 8th seed. The Pistons just have too much ground to cover. I think the Raptors will get the top seed and I think it'll be the Cavaliers and 76ers who have home court advantage in the first round. The Cavaliers do not want to go on the road to start the playoffs and understand that doing so would put them in a really difficult spot.

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Saturday Slam: Will Eric Bledsoe find new life with the Milwaukee Bucks?

                                          (Photo credit: NBA.com)

The big news of the week was the Phoenix Suns trading Eric Bledsoe to the Milwaukee Bucks for Greg Monroe, a protected 2018 1st round draft pick, and a 2018 protected 2nd round draft pick. Bledsoe made it clear on social media that he wanted out of Phoenix and the Suns granted his request.

Bledsoe is in his 8th season in the NBA and is now with his third team, spending his first three years with the Los Angeles Clippers and his next four years with the Phoenix Suns before being traded to the Bucks.

As the 18th overall pick in the 2010 NBA Draft, Bledsoe has blossomed into one of the better point guards in the NBA, having back-to-back 20+ points per game seasons in the 2015-16 and 2016-17 seasons. His biggest issue over the last couple of seasons has been staying healthy, suffering a torn meniscus in the 2015-16 season, allowing him to only play in 31 games. Last season, he was able to play in 66 games, but once again had his season shortened due to knee soreness.

Now that he is in Milwaukee, Bledsoe is hoping for a fresh start with a team that has a chance to do some damage in the playoffs. Bledsoe never made the playoffs with the Suns and with the current direction they are going in, it wasn't clear if he would be able to get back to the playoffs if he stayed in Phoenix for the long hall.

As far as whether or not Bledsoe will find new life in Milwaukee, he certainly has the chance to do so if he is able to stay healthy and if the Bucks in turn are able to get back to full strength with a healthy Jabari Parker. With Giannis Antetokounmpo at the helm, the Bucks have the pieces to do some serious damage in the Eastern Conference. It's just a matter of building on the foundation that they have and making sure no major injuries happen.

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NBALord.com Podcast: Breaking down the 1st Round of the NBA Playoffs

On this week's episode of the NBALord.com podcast, I break down the 1st Round of the NBA Playoffs up until this point. I especially focus on the series' that are tied 2-2 (Celtics-Bulls, Raptors-Bucks, Spurs-Grizzlies, and Clippers-Jazz). 

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Eastern Conference Playoffs Preview: Toronto Raptors vs. Milwaukee Bucks

In the first round of the Eastern Conference playoffs, the #3 seeded Toronto Raptors (51-31) will take on the #6 seeded Milwaukee Bucks (42-40). The Raptors won the regular season series 3-1. Game 1 will tip off on Saturday at 5:30 PM EST on ESPN.

The Raptors come into this series with a lot of momentum. They've won 4 straight games and 8 of their last 10 games. They are playing really good basketball with DeMar DeRozan and Kyle Lowry leading the charge.  DeRozan is averaging 27.3 points and 5.2 rebounds per game while Lowry is averaging 22.4 points, 4.8 rebounds, and 7.0 assists per game. Together, they form one of the more potent scoring duos in the NBA.

When looking at this Raptors team, the big question going into this post-season is whether or not trading Terrence Ross for Serge Ibaka will pay dividends for them. The Raptors have been in need of some sort of change or acquisition to elevate them into championship status and they are hoping that landing Serge Ibaka at the trade deadline will do just that.

So far, Ibaka has played well, averaging 14.8 points, 6.8 rebounds, and 1.4 blocks per game, but he hasn't exactly lived up the hype either. Given that the Raptors ended up with the #3 seed in the Eastern Conference instead of the #1 seed is disappointing for them in light of the Ibaka trade. They hoped that by landing him, they'd have home court advantage throughout the Eastern Conference playoffs instead.

That all said, the Raptors are definitely a better team with Serge Ibaka on the floor. He is much more multidimensional than Terrence Ross due to his ability to control the paint and shoot from beyond the arc. I want to make it clear that the addition of Serge Ibaka has made the Raptors better. They just haven't done as well with him as they hoped.

In regards to the Milwaukee Bucks, this team begins and ends with Giannis Antetokounmpo, who commonly goes by his nickname "The Greek Freak." Antetokounmpo has had a fantastic season, averaging 22.9 points, 8.8 rebounds, 5.4 assists, 1.9 blocks, and 1.6 steals per game. With Jabari Parker going down in the middle of the season due to a torn ACL, Antetokounmpo has had to lead this Bucks team and he has so far done an amazing job at doing so.

In addition to "The Greek Freak" playing like a superstar, the Bucks have gotten stellar production from a lot of their role players. Khris Middleton, Greg Monroe, Malcolm Brogdon, Tony Snell, and Michael Beasley have all done a really good job of taking the pressure off of Antetokounmpo and giving him the support that he needs. Without their production, the Bucks wouldn't have made the playoffs let alone finish sixth in the Eastern Conference. A lot of credit has to go to their head coach Jason Kidd for the way he has gotten his players to buy in and play as a team. The job he has done this season has been amazing and deserves to be mentioned.

The bottom line with this series is that on paper, the Toronto Raptors should win this series in five games. They have more weapons than the Bucks and while the Bucks do have Giannis Antetokounmpo and a solid supporting cast, there is a reason the Raptors have won 50+ games and the Bucks barely are above .500. The Raptors are the vastly superior team and smart money says they beat the Bucks rather convincingly in this series.

Usually, I go with smart money when I make predictions, but not this time. I do have the Raptors winning this series, but I think it goes the distance. The Raptors have had a history of underperforming in the playoffs and the Bucks on the flip side have nothing to lose. All the pressure will be on the Raptors to win this series quickly and I expect the pressure to get to them a bit. Milwaukee is not an easy place to play on the road and I expect the Bucks to be really tough when they are at home. Gianni Antetokounmpo will have a big series and his supporting cast will do a tremendous job at extending this series far longer than it really should.

What will decide this series in the end is home court advantage and the Raptors being the better team. I think that in a Game 7 in Toronto, DeMar DeRozan and Kyle Lowry will find a way to get the job done and put the Bucks away rather handily. I expect Serge Ibaka and Jonas Valanciunas to play big in the post and step up when they absolutely need to. That said, this will be a close series and the Bucks will put a good scare into the Raptors. Don't glaze over this series. I expect this to be a fun one.

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Saturday Slam: The Milwaukee Bucks are exhibiting true character without Jabari Parker

With the loss of Jabari Parker, one would think that the Milwaukee Bucks would be heading towards another chance to win the NBA Draft lottery. Parker was averaging 20.1 points and 6.1 rebounds per game before he went down with a season-ending ACL injury and was the #2 scoring option on the team behind Giannis Antetokounmpo, who is averaging 23.1 points and 8.5 rebounds per game. Parker's injury looked like a blow to the Bucks' playoff chances, but instead they have found a way to win 11 of their last 13 games and improve to 37-35 overall, which has them as the #6 seed in the Eastern Conference standings. 

What's really enabled the Bucks to catch fire over this stretch has been Khris Middleton, rookie Malcolm Brogdon, and Tony Snell stepping up at the wing position. They've all been able to consistently score in double figures ,which has really taken the pressure off of Antetokounmpo. Middleton wasn't available to play until the middle of the season as he was recovering from a hamstring injury, so he's steadily gotten better as he's approached full strength. As for Brogdon, he's continued to make a strong case for winning rookie of the year honors while Snell has been a very pleasant surprise, looking like a wash out after his days with the Bulls. 

Whether you want to admit it or not, injuries are a part of the game and good teams know how to overcome them. Granted, some injuries are more devastating than others, but regardless, teams have to have the depth needed to stay afloat provided they lose one of their star guys. The Bucks are showing they have such depth and it has really paid off for them this season. 

In terms of how much damage this Bucks team can do in the playoffs, one has to like their chances of winning a first round series provided they hang on to the #6 spot or improve to the #5 spot. The Washington Wizards are #3 and the Toronto Raptors are #4. Both teams are really good, but haven't been in able to get it done in the playoffs during these past few seasons. If the Bucks can stay where the are at or move up to the #5 spot, I think they have a good shot at getting to the second round of the playoffs. Should they slip down to the #7 or #8 spot, I think they are destined for a first round exit, judging by how good the Cleveland Cavaliers and Boston Celtics have been. 

Even if the Bucks were to have a first round playoff exit, making the playoffs in and of itself would be a remarkable achievement considering the adversity that they have faced. When Parker went down, the Bucks could have mailed in the rest of the season and given up. Instead, they have dug deep and found ways to have role players step up. They have truly exhibited the character of a championship team. 

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Saturday Slam: The loss of Jabari Parker dashes the Milwaukee Bucks’ playoffs hopes

                                          (Credit: Keith Allison. Click here for source) 

Earlier in the week, the Milwaukee Bucks received the awful news that Jabari Parker suffered a torn ACL in his left knee and that he’ll be out for at least 12 months. Parker, in his 3^rd year out of Duke, was having the best season of his young career, averaging 20.1 points, 6.2 rebounds, and 2.8 assists. He was playing like a borderline all-star and along with Giannis Antetokounmpo had the Bucks knocking on the door for a playoff spot.

With Parker now done for the season, it will be really tough for this Bucks team to find a way to make the playoffs. They are already on the outside looking in in the Eastern Conference playoff picture, a full two games back of the 25-29 Detroit Pistons, who are in current possession of the 8^th seed. With Parker now out, they’ll have to find a way to play even better without their #2 scoring option.

If there is anybody who can be expected to take the pressure off of Antetokounmpo, Greg Monroe, Michael Beasley, and rookie guard Malcolm Brogdon are probably the best options the Bucks have right now. Monroe is averaging 11 points and 6.7 rebounds per game while Beasley is averaging 8.7 points per game with the capability of going off every time he steps on the floor.  As for Brogdon, he’s averaging 9.2 points per game, putting together one of the best rookie seasons in the NBA. With Parker out, Brogdon should get a lot more touches and see his scoring average enter double digits.

On paper, Khris Middleton would be the guy for the Bucks to look to with Parker out as he averaged 18.2 points per game last season. However, he is just returning from a torn hamstring that he suffered back in October and so it’s not clear when he’ll be back to full strength. Odds are good he may not be 100% until next season, which is why it’s really on Monroe, Beasley, and Brogdon to step up.

What’s sad is that this Bucks team was trending upwards until Jabari Parker went down. With Khris Middleton returning, the Bucks were hoping to give their lineup a nice boost but with Parker going down, those hopes are gone. More importantly, their playoff hopes appear to be dashed.

The Bucks did make a trade recently that sent Miles Plumlee packing for Charlotte in exchange for Roy Hibbert and Spencer Hawes, but I don’t see that trade really helping them out as far as making up for Jabari Parker’s production. That trade is much more about adding some front court depth and giving them another big guy to bang down low in the post as opposed to giving them more scoring, which is what Parker gave them.

The Bucks are a team that I root for and so I really hate to see them catch a bad break like this. Jabari Parker is a really good guy and has already had his share of injuries to start his career. Hopefully Jabari Parker is able to come back stronger than before and that the Bucks will somehow find a way to remain competitive this season. I wish them good luck and I wish Jabari Parker all the best as he goes about an arduous 12-month rehab process. 

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