Milwaukee Bucks: Do They Fear the Deer?🦌

Milwaukee Bucks: Do They Fear the Deer?🦌

The Bucks have had a hectic year. losing in the first round against the eight-seed Heat. The defeat shocked the whole world. The memes were flying everywhere. Everyone thought the team could make it to the finals, but the team lost in five games. Jon Horst looked at the team and made a drastic shift. He made some moves that took big balls. Firing their champion coach, Mike Budenholzer, and trading for Damian Lillard. Everyone thought the Bucks were contenders with these moves. The East was theirs. Then mid-season happened, and Woj dropped a nuke on Twitter. The Bucks parted ways with head coach Adrian Griffin. It was out of character for a franchise that seemed so competent. 30-13 is an awesome record. It turned out that the players did not like him. Then Doc Rivers got the Bucks job. Which shocked the NBA world as Doc hasn't done shit since 2008. Hiring an underachieving coach to lead the Bucks to the finals seems like a recipe for disaster. Since taking over as coach, Doc has had an 8-7 record. It has shown the holes in the Bucks roster in a tough schedule. Due to the Bucks sucking on defense, it has been questioned if this team can kick any ass in the playoffs.

The Bucks defense is trash. It stinks of dog shit. With the backcourt of Malik Beasley and Damian Lillard, it is no surprise why Bucks games tend to be close. From last season being in the top four in defense to now being a mediocre defensive team, They replaced the Jrue Holiday defense and replaced it with Lillard's scoring. Now, Giannis has to take on the defensive load due to not having a defensive guard on the team anymore. Jon Horst brought in Patrick Beverley to fill in that hole. If the Celtics meet the Bucks in the playoffs, they are cooking them. Because Milwaukee doesn't have a player worth shit. The Bucks have to outscore to win, which will be difficult come playoff time. But with Giannis, it is hard to count them out.

One of the greatest players in the starting decade is Giannis Antetokounmpo. No team can plan against him. He is the most dominant player since Shaq. In the early parts of his career, teams used to lock him down with the wall. But, since they added shooters to the team, locking down the Greek Freak is impossible. His ability to pass opens opportunities for shooters. We saw this in 2021. Giannis dominated his way through the playoffs. Winning the Finals MVP with a 50-bomb. Proving to the world that he is one of the greats. Adding that ring to his MVP and Defensive Player of the Year trophy. He is a top 50 player of all time, and he proves why every game he plays.

Giannis is one of the most dominant players in the league. He takes long strides to get to the rim. His wingspan is 7'3, and his big hands make it easy to finish. With his big steps, he can hit the euro step. Giannis can hit the mid-range after the quick spin. Antetokounmpo uses his footwork, feetwork, and strength to get to the basket. Giannis is one of the best transition players in the league. When he gets the rebound, he goes all the way to the hole. The Greek Freak is one of the best rebounders in the league. With Giannis's gravity, it creates opportunities for role players. He is a great passer. Giannis is one of the best help defenders in the league. He is great at blocking shots. Also, Greek Freak is a ball hawk, as he averages 1.2 steals per game. Giannis is a beast on both ends of the floor. It shows, as he has won DPOTY and MVP. Antetokounmpo's game translated well in the playoffs.

In the 2021 playoffs, Giannis showed the world that he is one of the greatest players of all time. Averaging 35 points per game, 13 rebounds, and 5 assists per game, and winning the finals MVP. Antetokounmpo had the world in his hands. He finally proved the naysayers wrong. But since then, Giannis has run into injury issues. Khris Middleton got injured, which forced the Greek Freak to take on more of a role and lose to the Celtics. Then, in 2023, the Bucks found themselves losing to the Heat in five. The Bucks and Giannis have not caught a break. Due to these shortcomings, the Bucks bought in a new star in Milwaukee.

Milwaukee went shopping this off-season. They wanted to bring another superstar to the franchise. Considering the threat of Giannis packing his bags and leaving the cheese state, Jon Horst did everything to cater to his superstar. So, they brought in Damian Lillard. One of the best point guards is looking for a home. A guy who scores all the way from the logo and drives to the rim with ease. Lillard is a player who is fun to watch. But the problem is that he is ball-dominant. He is not an off-ball player who fits with Giannis like Jrue Holiday did. Also, his defense is awful. It is a problem because other guards see him as a barbecue chicken. Which is why the glaring problem of Notre Dame's defense will be a problem come playoff time.

Damian Lillard is one of the most overrated playoff players. He will have a monster performance in the first round and then disappear in the second round. Like in the second round of 2019 against Denver, with the game on the line, he dropped only 13 points. It seems like Dame has been able to escape the slander as compared to his peers, James Harden and Paul George. It might be because he played in Portland or the West. This postseason could open many eyes, as it could expose Lillard as a play-off dropper. And with how talented the offensive guards are in the East, it puts Dame in the position to be a good defender. Khris Middleton could reduce pressure on Lillard.

Khris Middleton has been a key player for the Bucks and their success. From being a second overall pick to becoming a second option on an NBA championship team, A talented offensive player who can pass, hit the mid-range, and shoot the 3-point shot. A guy who has an incredible ISO game. Middleton showed his value when he took over the Hawks series after Giannis got hurt in 2021. A player who plays off of Giannis has been crucial to their success. He is also a good defender. But health has been an issue for Khris. He sustained an injury during the 2022 playoffs. Along with him aging and his contract, it could end ugly for the Bucks. Their core is old. They have offensive firepower with their three key players. They have a great center who opens up the floor.

Brook Lopez has reinvented his career. He went from being a mediocre post-defender to being in the discussion for defensive player of the year. He also became a 3-point shooter. Being one of the best rim protectors in the league, along with his drop coverage. But his issue comes to an end. He has had back problems, which isn't good for a big man. Also, he wasn't much of a factor against the Heat last post-season. Though Brook was huge in the playoffs in 2021, it is hard to count him out. He is a key role player for the Bucks, along with their shooting guard, Malik Beasley.

A perfect off-ball player who can be a spark for the offense. Malik Beasley is a player who can handle the ball, shoot from mid-range, and go to the hole. Beasley is the perfect player to put next to Giannis. When Greek Freak needs to kick out, Malik is the perfect catch-and-shoot player. Having both Dame and Giannis on the team creates more opportunities for the guard. But the problem comes when we talk about defense. Malik cannot guard players. Because of this, games become tough. Which is why the Bucks had to shake up the roster and bring in a defensive-minded guard into their depth.

The Bucks have depth filled with experience. Bobby Portis, who has been the sixth man for the past few seasons, Pat Connaughton is a hustle player. Jae Crowder is a declining veteran who can still give minutes. Patrick Beverley is a defense-minded point guard who can create for himself on offense. AJ Green is a young player on the Bucks. Organizations are now on a win-win timetable. Which is why Jon Horst has brought in veteran players who understand their roles.

The Bucks do not have a lot of time on their hands. They have built an aging roster around Giannis. Brook Lopez and Khris Middleton have a history of injuries. We don't know how long they can play at an elite level. Now, with the Doc Rivers hiring, it has made fans question if the Bucks can even go far in the playoffs. That discussion has not happened since 2019. The organization has now shown that they are all in on winning a championship. And the defense has been a question. The Bucks are not good on that end. It will cause problems for the Boston Celtics and the Knicks. With fans willing to declare the Celtics the frontrunners of the East, The question comes: do teams fear the deer?

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