Can Giannis and the Bucks get back on top?

The previous season, the Boston Celtics prevented the Boston Celtics from winning the championship twice. Giannis Antetokounmpo and company are out for revenge.

But what do they need to return to the top of the NBA?

1- What’s keeping the franchise awake at the moment?
If anything complicated the Milwaukee Bucks’ repeat title aspirations, it was the injury suffered by Khris Middleton last season when the playoffs began. The forward suffered a severe sprain of the internal ligament of his left knee that kept him off the court for the next 10 games: 3 in the series against Chicago Bulls and 7 in the series against Boston Celtics. It came at the worst time imaginable. So if there’s one thing that can keep coach Mike Budenholzer awake at night, it’s the health of one of the members of his Big 3.

Middleton played 68 games between regular season and playoffs last season and his team’s record was 44-24 (64.7% efficiency). Middleton’s 20.1 points per game average, 5.4 rebounds, 5.4 assists and 37.3% three-point and 89% free throw efficiency are essential to the team’s success.

If Milwaukee can keep its Big 3 of Giannis Antetokounmpo, Jrue Holiday and Middleton healthy, the aspirations of winning the East and returning to the NBA Finals remain intact. On the other hand, if an injury wipes out any of them, especially in the playoffs as was the case last season, things will be complicated and everything will be uphill.

2- What is the main pending issue for the Bucks?
To return to dominate the East and take away the label of big conference favorite from the Boston Celtics and the Miami Heat.

The team has important material and perhaps their ‘Big Three’, Giannis Antetokounmpo, Jrue Holiday and Khris Middleton should be better supported and have more bench support. While the team has not undergone too many changes since it was crowned a couple of seasons ago, it is clear that the squad suffers when its stars are absent for some reason.

Having a deep roster will give coach Mike Budenholzer’s team the peace of mind to contend for the top spot in their conference. In addition to the Heat and Celtics, Milwaukee is a natural candidate. I believe that one of the finalists will come out of these three franchises, as it is difficult for the Philadelphia 76ers or the Brooklyn Nets to make good the predictions of each year and the Atlanta Hawks could be the dark horse of the East.

3- Fact or fiction: the Bucks get their house in order again.
Fact: Does anyone doubt that, with Khris Middleton on the court against the Celtics, Milwaukee would win that series and be a solid candidate for the 2021-22 championship? But hey, what happened, happened, as the Puerto Rican reggaetonero Daddy Yankee would say.

Giannis Antetokounmpo is the best player on the planet right now, even if Nikola Jokic boasts two consecutive MVP’s. And Holiday simply remains the best point guard and guard defender in the entire NBA.

So what did they do and what’s next for the Bucks? Because they are about $20 million over tax, they didn’t have much flexibility in signing a fourth ‘star’. However, they did renew Bobby Portis and also Pat Connaughton. They also brought back veterans Serge Ibaka and Wesley Matthews.

Joe Ingles, former Utah Jazz, is a tremendous acquisition. With that, especially with Giannis, Milwaukee is once again the team to beat in the Eastern Conference.

Yes… Over Boston, which now has another big problem, for not giving Jaylen Brown some love. Add to that the fact that a team like Milwaukee is always active in the buyout market in the middle of the tournament.

The Bucks will not only put the house in order, but will also be the main rival for a hypothetical Final against the reigning champions Golden State Warriors. Neither Wiseman nor Draymond Green or company could stop a physical prodigy of the Greek’s caliber.