30 games in, the Bucks have shown that they have a bright future led by coach Jason Kidd.
After dominating the East’s second-seeded Atlanta Hawks (who had won 14 of their last 15 games) on Friday night en route to a 107-77 win, Milwaukee is 15-15, good for sixth place in the Eastern Conference heading into Saturday’s rematch versus the Hawks.
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GIF-God Giannis Antetotounmpko has shown great improvement, and he’s giving Bucks fans plenty of reasons to hold onto hope for the future. Though he’s struggling from downtown (3-17 3Pt) as compared to last season (41-118 3Pt), the Greek Freak has raised his field goal percentage from 41.4 percent to 49.6 percent while increasing his shot attempts from 5.4 to 9.0 per game. Why the improved field goal percentage? Well, it certainly helps when 57.0 percent of his shot attempts come from inside three feet.
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At 20 years old, Giannis is averaging 12.1 points, 5.9 rebounds, 2.1 assists, 0.7 steals and 0.7 blocks in 27.7 minutes per game. To put things in perspective, the injured Paul George, who enjoyed similar continued growth following his being drafted, had a comparably underwhelming statistical rookie campaign, but averaged 12.1 points (44.0 percent FG), 5.6 rebounds, 2.4 assists, 1.6 steals and 0.6 blocks in 29.7 minutes per game as a 21-year-old during his sophomore season. Safe to say, Milwaukee’s “GF” is taking serious strides in his second season.
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Brandon Knight is also having by far his best statistical season, and he continues to make the Pistons feel lousy for giving up on him for Brandon Jennings.
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Sadly Jabari Parker was lost for the season with a torn ACL, but the 19-year-old looked like a solid contender for Rookie of the Year prior to his injury, averaging 12.3 points (49.0 percent FG), 5.5 rebounds, 1.7 assists and 1.2 steals in 29.5 minutes per game. Whether Brandon Knight is ultimately retained in restricted free agency next summer or not, it only took the Bucks 25 games to fall in love with the forward tandem of Jabari and Giannis, which figures to be in Milwaukee for the foreseeable future.
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When Parker went down, there were a lot of questions about whether Milwaukee might slip out of the playoff race, but they’ve shown real resilience after an injury that could have left the team feeling deflated. As it stands, they look like a playoff team in the East.
6. Milwaukee 15-15
7. Miami 14-16
8. Brooklyn 13-15
9. Boston 10-17
10. Orlando 11-21
11. Indiana 10-20
12. Charlotte 10-20
The Bucks score the most bench points per game (44.7) in the league while conceding the fewest (29.6), are seventh in the league in field goal percentage (46.7 percent), and second in steals (9.1 per game). Brooklyn has been looking for ways to blow up the team, Boston is not interested in making the playoffs and handing Philadelphia a first-round pick, and while Orlando, Indiana and Charlotte could conceivably start winning more games while Milwaukee hits a snag, the odds that three of those six teams who are realistically in the playoff race will pass the Bucks (who are competing well against the top teams) seem slim.
A playoff appearance may not have been expected for Milwaukee this year, and may be viewed by some as a setback for the franchise since the alternative would be another lottery pick. However, a playoff series would bring some buzz back to the BMO Bradley Center, which has actually been bumping lately. The way Jason Kidd has these guys gelling, it may take another serious injury to stop the Bucks from reaching the postseason. It’s time to fear the deer; they’re sincere.
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