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After a painful 50 year wait, the Milwaukee Bucks were crowned NBA champions once again in the 2020-21 season. However, while Giannis Antetokounmpo and co. celebrate their success, attention has already turned to the upcoming campaign. It currently appears that many believe the Bucks cannot become back-to-back champions.
Vegas Insider, a well-known odds site, revealed the early title favorites last month. As they currently stand, the Milwaukee Bucks are joint third alongside the Golden State Warriors. The Warriors didn't compete in the playoffs last year and don't know what level long-term absentee Klay Thompson will be at when he returns.
As expected, the LA Lakers and Brooklyn Nets are the runaway favorites among the bookmakers. But is it naive to rule out the Bucks, who convincingly saw off the Phoenix Suns in the NBA Finals?
While we understand that the Nets and Lakers will be menacing opposition this year and that Durant almost put the Bucks out last season, this article will instead discuss why the Milwaukee Bucks have what it takes to win another chip.
Why the Milwaukee Bucks have what it takes to win another NBA championship
#1 Giannis Antetokounmpo's excellence
The main reason why the Milwaukee Bucks can be NBA champions again this year is down to Giannis Antetokounmpo's brilliance. The Greek big man had an NBA Finals series for the ages against the Suns, averaging 35 points and 13 rebounds on his way to the Finals MVP trophy. He saved the best for last, scoring 50 points and grabbing 14 rebounds and five blocks in Game Six. Antetokounmpo's performance proved once and for all that he can now step up on the biggest stage in basketball.
There was little stopping the Greek's sheer size and athleticism in the playoffs and it is unlikely any team will be able to combat that with complete success this year too. Both the Brooklyn Nets and Phoenix Suns failed to stop him scoring 30+ points a night or dominating the boards during the 2020-21 playoffs.
Despite his two MVP seasons, Antetokounmpo had never led the Milwaukee Bucks past the Eastern Conference Finals until last year, and had taken the brunt of the team's criticism. Now that he has won his first chip, the 26-year-old will be determined to win more and can play with the weight of expectation off his shoulders.
#2 Jrue Holiday's defense
While Giannis Antetokounmpo and Khris Middleton stole the headlines for the Milwaukee Bucks, it was Jrue Holiday's defense that proved to be the missing ingredient in an already stiff defensive unit. He showed why the Bucks traded away so much for him and why they gave him a monsterous contract extension in April.
In the playoffs, Holiday averaged 1.7 steals per game and a defensive win share of 1.6, just 0.6 lesser than his regular season tally. In four separate games in the playoffs, he had over three steals.
But it was in the NBA Finals where Holiday's defense truly came to the fore. After defending Devin Booker in Game One, limiting him to 27 points on 26 shooting possessions and 1 of 8 three-pointers made, Holiday was switched onto Chris Paul for the remainder of the series. He hounded the Suns leader, forcing him to give up the ball to Booker more and more with each passing game. Holiday also wore Paul down with frequent full-court press defense.
In Game Five, Holiday produced his play of the series, stealing the ball from Booker late in the game before dribbling up the court and lobbing it to Antetokounmpo to dunk and seal the game.
#3 The Bucks were able to beat the Nets without shooting the ball well
While Brooklyn Nets fans will argue that injuries and Kevin Durant's big feet cost them a shot at the title this year, the fact is that the Milwaukee Bucks got the job done on the road in Game Seven. Where in the past they may have messed up an opportunity to play a series mostly against one superstar rather than three, the Bucks prevailed. Most importantly, they managed this massive victory while Giannis Antetokounmpo and Jrue Holiday shot the ball poorly.
Over the seven-game series, Antetokounmpo shot at a measly 26% from deep on 4.4 attempts per game and 48% from the free-throw line. Holiday, meanwhile, also made only 26% of his 6.6 threes each night and connected with just 36% of field-goal efforts. Even Mr. Reliable Khris Middleton shot below his usual standards, making only 40% of shots and 36.5% of threes.
But the Milwaukee Bucks were able to come through the series despite a Kevin Durant onslaught. Should their stars improve their shooting from deep and Antetokounmpo resolve his free-throw issues, they can overcome the Nets, who will be their most fierce opponents, once again.
#4 Strength in depth
Despite parting ways with PJ Tucker this summer, which seemed like a bizarre decision at the time, the Milwaukee Bucks do have strong depth in their side.
Bobby Portis re-signed with the franchise after the energetic and efficient minutes he brought off the bench in the playoffs, averaging 8.8 points and five rebounds per game. They also rounded out the roster by adding George Hill, Rodney Hood and Semi Ojeleye, who will bring experience and value during the regular season.
The Milwaukee Bucks will also be eagerly awaiting the return of starting point guard Donte DiVincenzo, who will now have competition for his place. This should only raise his game during the 2021-22 season.
#5 The Milwaukee Bucks have experience and solidity
While the Milwaukee Bucks have made the necessary roster adjustments to solidify their championship hopes, they have also kept their core together. That includes coach Mike Budenholzer, who signed a three-year extension with the franchise on Tuesday.
Budenholzer has already been the team's head coach since 2018 and has learned to adjust his lineup in the playoffs - a weakness Bucks fans have been frustrated with in the past. By the end of his new deal, all things going well, he will have spent six years with Khris Middleton and Giannis Antetokounmpo, whose contracts end in 2024 and 2026 respectively. He would have also spent five years with Brook Lopez.
Adding Jrue Holiday to the squad on a four-year deal means the Milwaukee Bucks have a starting lineup for the future and one worthy of adding more banners. There is a lot of evidence to show that keeping a nucleus of players that have won a title together is crucial, the most recent example of which came from the Golden State Warriors.
Guess the Lakers players!
