Milwaukee Bucks (Photo by Don Juan Moore/Getty Images)
On paper, the Milwaukee Bucks should be the favorite to win the title inside the NBA’s Orlando restart, but they need to address these x-factors first.
For a team having such a momentous season on the back of the reigning MVP’s immeasurable growth, the Milwaukee Bucks sure do seem to be underrated by the masses. They have the tools to go up against any other contender using their depth, coaching, versatility and star. Even with that being the case, many don’t believe they can win a title this year.
Can you really blame them for being skeptical? Milwaukee went 60-22 last season — a record that this year’s group was on track to beat in a full 82-game season. They put the world on notice last year but were ultimately bested by the eventual champion Toronto Raptors in six games.
It was viewed as a failure while in reality, it showed a leap of progress for this franchise with the MVP in his first season in a new system. That growth is amplified when you consider that they won seven of their eight playoff games before that series.
However, there were some serious concerns about how ready the Bucks were when the pressure turned up. Now they’ll try to redeem themselves while living inside the competitive environment of the Orlando Bubble.
Milwaukee is playing for way more than just their checks in these eight games heading into the playoffs. Getting the team back into the flow of things could help build momentum for a group full of question marks heading into a playoff that could dramatically change the way Giannis Antetokounmpo is viewed in the pantheon of NBA lore.
These are the five X-Factors that are going to decide whether the Bucks can ascend to NBA champions or fail with their ultimate goal just barely out of reach.
Milwaukee Bucks</a> sure do seem to be underrated by the masses. They have the tools to go up against any other contender using their depth, coaching, versatility and star. Even with that being the case, many don’t believe they can win a title this year.</p>
<p>Can you really blame them for being skeptical? Milwaukee went 60-22 last season — a record that this year’s group was on track to beat in a full 82-game season. They put the world on notice last year but were ultimately bested by the eventual champion Toronto Raptors in six games.</p>
<div class="recent-posts">
<h4>More from <b>Hoops Habit</b></h4>
<ul><li>
<a href=https://hoopshabit.com/2020/07/23/milwaukee-bucks-5-x-factors-playoffs/"https://hoopshabit.com/2022/08/25/orlando-magic-starting-guards-22/">Orlando Magic: Who deserves to start in the backcourt this season?
</a></li><li>
<a href=https://hoopshabit.com/2020/07/23/milwaukee-bucks-5-x-factors-playoffs/"https://hoopshabit.com/2022/08/25/3-bold-predictions-brooklyn-nets/">3 bold predictions for the Brooklyn Nets next season
</a></li><li>
<a href=https://hoopshabit.com/2020/07/23/milwaukee-bucks-5-x-factors-playoffs/"https://hoopshabit.com/2022/08/24/kevin-durant-nets-saga-no-big-deal/">Kevin Durant’s trade saga is no big deal for the Nets, and history proves it
</a></li><li>
<a href=https://hoopshabit.com/2020/07/23/milwaukee-bucks-5-x-factors-playoffs/"https://hoopshabit.com/2022/08/24/san-antonio-spurs-mount-rushmore/">Selecting the San Antonio Spurs’ Mount Rushmore
</a></li><li>
<a href=https://hoopshabit.com/2020/07/23/milwaukee-bucks-5-x-factors-playoffs/"https://hoopshabit.com/2022/08/24/tre-jones-vs-joshua-primo-will-start-point-guard-spurs/">Tre Jones vs. Joshua Primo: Who will start at point guard for the Spurs?
</a></li></ul>
</div>
<p>It was viewed as a failure while in reality, it showed a leap of progress for this franchise with the MVP in his first season in a new system. That growth is amplified when you consider that they won seven of their eight playoff games before that series.</p>
<p>However, there were some serious concerns about how ready the Bucks were when the pressure turned up. Now they’ll try to redeem themselves while living inside the competitive environment of the Orlando Bubble.</p>
<p>Milwaukee is playing for way more than just their checks in these eight games heading into the playoffs. Getting the team back into the flow of things could help build momentum for a group full of question marks heading into a playoff that could dramatically change the way <a href=https://hoopshabit.com/2020/07/23/milwaukee-bucks-5-x-factors-playoffs/"https://www.basketball-reference.com/players/a/antetgi01.html?utm_campaign=Linker&utm_source=direct&utm_medium=linker-%22 target="_blank" rel="nofollow noopener" ref="nofollow">Giannis Antetokounmpo</a> is viewed in the pantheon of NBA lore.</p>
<p>These are the five X-Factors that are going to decide whether the Bucks can ascend to NBA champions or fail with their ultimate goal just barely out of reach.</p>
<div class="next-slide slider"> <a class="next-slide-btn" style="background:#222423" data-track="shortcode" data-track-action="next-slide-shortcode" href=https://hoopshabit.com/2020/07/23/milwaukee-bucks-5-x-factors-playoffs/"#"> <span class="title">Next:</span> X-Factor No. 1 </a>
</div><!—pageview_candidate—><hr id="pagebreak"><div id="attachment_404702" class="wp-caption aligncenter">
<img class="size-full wp-image-404702" src=https://hoopshabit.com/2020/07/23/milwaukee-bucks-5-x-factors-playoffs/"https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/fetch/c_fill,g_auto,f_auto,h_2133,w_3200/http%3A%2F%2Fhoopshabit.com%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2Fgetty-images%2F2020%2F07%2F1208617456.jpeg" alt="Milwaukee Bucks" width="3200" height="2133" srcset="https://hoopshabit.com/wp-content/uploads/getty-images/2020/07/1208617456.jpeg 3200w, https://hoopshabit.com/wp-content/uploads/getty-images/2020/07/1208617456-768x512.jpeg 768w" sizes="(max-width: 3200px) 100vw, 3200px"><div class="fs-center-img">
<p class="wp-caption-text" style="width:3200px;">Milwaukee Bucks (Photo by Patrick Smith/Getty Images)</p>
</div>
</div>
<h2>X-Factor No. 1: Can Coach Bud shake his rocky playoff past?</h2>
<p>Since his first playoff series as a head coach, there’ve been concerns about Mike Budenholzer’s ability to craft dynamic strategies that hold up in the playoffs. Through 54 career playoff games, Bud’s record is dead-even at .500. Before last year’s run, he was just 17-22 in the postseason with more series lost than won as the go-to leader on the sidelines.</p>
<p>Those Atlanta Hawks teams that he led weren’t exactly the gold-standard of playoff rosters with the exception of their 60-win group, but context won’t shed the haze looming over Bud’s past. He needs to prove that regardless of the circumstances, he can devise strategies to combat the best of the best when backed against a wall. Defeating a rundown Detroit Pistons team in the first round last year wasn’t anything to marvel at and the Boston Celtics barely showed up in the Conference Semi-Finals.</p>
<div class="fs-shortcode" data-type="StoryLink" data-theme="light" data-text="Bucks: Who is the third-best player on the team?" data-url="http://hoopshabit.com/2020/06/01/milwaukee-bucks-5-former-players/" data-call-to-action="Related Story"> <div class="story-link-related"> <a class="story-link-related-btn" data-track="shortcode" data-track-action="story-link-related-shortcode" href=https://hoopshabit.com/2020/07/23/milwaukee-bucks-5-x-factors-playoffs/"http://hoopshabit.com/2020/06/01/milwaukee-bucks-5-former-players/"> <span class="call_to_action">Related Story:</span> Bucks: Who is the third-best player on the team? </a> </div>
</div>
<p>I have little doubt that Budenholzer and the Bucks are going to crush their first-round matchup, whether it be Brooklyn or Orlando. What intrigues me most is that Conference Semi-Final matchup that lays ahead.</p>
<p>The Eastern Conference is much more dangerous than it was even a year ago. Though Kawhi departed for the West Coast, Toronto is still a powerhouse with insurmountable depth and expert leadership. Boston is a much better team this year than it was last year, Philly remains dangerous, Indiana is feisty and the Heat gave Milwaukee trouble in their matchups during the regular season.</p>
<p>Nothing is set in stone this year. Budenholzer will get Coach of the Year votes, but he has a star player mulling his future with the organization. No matter what accolades go his way, time is of the essence. If the Bucks don’t reach the Finals inside the bubble, Budenholzer is going to vulnerable to quite a bit of scrutiny during the offseason.</p>
<div class="next-slide slider"> <a class="next-slide-btn" style="background:#222423" data-track="shortcode" data-track-action="next-slide-shortcode" href=https://hoopshabit.com/2020/07/23/milwaukee-bucks-5-x-factors-playoffs/"#"> <span class="title">Next:</span> X-Factor No. 2 </a>
</div><!—pageview_candidate—><hr id="pagebreak"><div id="attachment_404703" class="wp-caption aligncenter">
<img class="size-full wp-image-404703" src=https://hoopshabit.com/2020/07/23/milwaukee-bucks-5-x-factors-playoffs/"https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/fetch/c_fill,g_auto,f_auto,h_2133,w_3200/http%3A%2F%2Fhoopshabit.com%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2Fgetty-images%2F2020%2F07%2F1185958030.jpeg" alt="Milwaukee Bucks" width="3200" height="2133" srcset="https://hoopshabit.com/wp-content/uploads/getty-images/2020/07/1185958030.jpeg 3200w, https://hoopshabit.com/wp-content/uploads/getty-images/2020/07/1185958030-768x512.jpeg 768w" sizes="(max-width: 3200px) 100vw, 3200px"><div class="fs-center-img">
<p class="wp-caption-text" style="width:3200px;">Milwaukee Bucks (Photo by Hannah Foslien/Getty Images)</p>
</div>
</div>
<h2>X-Factor No. 2: Which Eric Bledsoe shows up in the bubble?</h2>
<p>Maybe some of the uncertainty behind Budenholzer’s playoff woes are overblown, but the criticism of Bucks starting point guard <a href=https://hoopshabit.com/2020/07/23/milwaukee-bucks-5-x-factors-playoffs/"https://www.basketball-reference.com/players/b/bledser01.html?utm_campaign=Linker&utm_source=direct&utm_medium=linker-%22 target="_blank" rel="nofollow noopener" ref="nofollow">Eric Bledsoe</a> in the playoffs is completely warranted. During his two seasons in Milwaukee, Bledsoe’s field goal percentage dropped an average of 6.3 percent from the regular season to the playoffs. In 648 playoff minutes with this team, his decision-making dwindled, his shot selection wavered and his defense became a tad bit less reliable.</p>
<p>The question remains: Is this what’s to be expected from Bledsoe under the highest pressure, or can he overcome his stage fright? How Bledsoe plays in the eight games leading into the postseason will set the tempo for his performances after. If he resumes the season without giving maximum effort, he’ll probably have another detrimental playoff run.</p>
<div class="fs-shortcode" data-type="StoryLink" data-theme="light" data-text="Bucks: Khris Middleton, .01 percent away from elite history" data-url="https://hoopshabit.com/2020/06/17/milwaukee-bucks-khris-middleton-history/" data-call-to-action="Related Story"> <div class="story-link-related"> <a class="story-link-related-btn" data-track="shortcode" data-track-action="story-link-related-shortcode" href=https://hoopshabit.com/2020/07/23/milwaukee-bucks-5-x-factors-playoffs/"https://hoopshabit.com/2020/06/17/milwaukee-bucks-khris-middleton-history/"> <span class="call_to_action">Related Story:</span> Bucks: Khris Middleton, .01 percent away from elite history </a> </div>
</div>
<p>While he didn’t play up to the All-Defensive team standard set for himself last season, Bledsoe had a relatively effective season so far for the Bucks. His 3-point percentage is the highest its been since 2016, he’s rebounded the ball exceptionally well, he remains a bulldog of a defender and his true shooting is the second-highest its ever been at 57.9 percent.</p>
<p>Maybe now that he’s in his 30s, Bledsoe is arriving at a new level of maturity that will allow him to maintain his composure in the postseason. He’s ostensibly the third-best player on a team that’s won 81.5 percent of its games during his second year in this system and that has to count for something. If Bledsoe can perform at a moderate standard instead of relapsing into the worst version of himself, Milwaukee’s title hopes will be substantiated.</p>
<div class="next-slide slider"> <a class="next-slide-btn" style="background:#222423" data-track="shortcode" data-track-action="next-slide-shortcode" href=https://hoopshabit.com/2020/07/23/milwaukee-bucks-5-x-factors-playoffs/"#"> <span class="title">Next:</span> X-Factor No. 3 </a>
</div><!—pageview_candidate—><hr id="pagebreak"><div id="attachment_404704" class="wp-caption aligncenter">
<img class="size-full wp-image-404704" src=https://hoopshabit.com/2020/07/23/milwaukee-bucks-5-x-factors-playoffs/"https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/fetch/c_fill,g_auto,f_auto,h_2545,w_3200/http%3A%2F%2Fhoopshabit.com%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2Fgetty-images%2F2020%2F07%2F1210894007.jpeg" alt="Milwaukee Bucks" width="3200" height="2545" srcset="https://hoopshabit.com/wp-content/uploads/getty-images/2020/07/1210894007.jpeg 3200w, https://hoopshabit.com/wp-content/uploads/getty-images/2020/07/1210894007-768x611.jpeg 768w" sizes="(max-width: 3200px) 100vw, 3200px"><div class="fs-center-img">
<p class="wp-caption-text" style="width:3200px;">Milwaukee Bucks (Photo by Harry How/Getty Images)</p>
</div>
</div>
<h2>X-Factor No. 3: Donte DiVincenzo needs to pick up where he left off</h2>
<p>Coming to a complete halt after going full-steam ahead in an 82-game slate can kill momentum. This can be especially jarring for younger players, which means the Bucks may not be able to rely on sophomore Donte DiVincenzo as they did before the break.</p>
<p>Having played the sixth-most minutes on the team, DiVincenzo ranked second on the team in Net Plus/Minus per 100 possessions. Milwaukee was 6.2 points per 100 possessions better with him on the floor than off, which is 2.3 points better than the third-ranked Bledsoe. Some of that has to do with the fact that DiVincenzo plays a portion of his minutes against second units, but he also started 22 games for this team and has gone toe-to-toe with some legit competition.</p>
<div class="fs-shortcode" data-type="StoryLink" data-theme="light" data-text="Bucks: 3 key stats that could bolster title hopes" data-url="https://hoopshabit.com/2020/06/27/milwaukee-bucks-3-stats-title-hopes/" data-call-to-action="Related Story"> <div class="story-link-related"> <a class="story-link-related-btn" data-track="shortcode" data-track-action="story-link-related-shortcode" href=https://hoopshabit.com/2020/07/23/milwaukee-bucks-5-x-factors-playoffs/"https://hoopshabit.com/2020/06/27/milwaukee-bucks-3-stats-title-hopes/"> <span class="call_to_action">Related Story:</span> Bucks: 3 key stats that could bolster title hopes </a> </div>
</div>
<div class="embed ">
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="500" data-dnt="true">
<p lang="en" dir="ltr">How's the first week in the bubble, <a href=https://hoopshabit.com/2020/07/23/milwaukee-bucks-5-x-factors-playoffs/"https://twitter.com/Divincenzo?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%22>@divincenzo? <a href=https://hoopshabit.com/2020/07/23/milwaukee-bucks-5-x-factors-playoffs/"https://t.co/VTX0pIeMEg">pic.twitter.com/VTX0pIeMEg
<p>— Milwaukee Bucks (@Bucks) <a href=https://hoopshabit.com/2020/07/23/milwaukee-bucks-5-x-factors-playoffs/"https://twitter.com/Bucks/status/1283911542073942018?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%22>July 16, 2020</a></p></blockquote>
<p><script async src=https://hoopshabit.com/2020/07/23/milwaukee-bucks-5-x-factors-playoffs/"https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></p></div>
<p>Milwaukee needs the version of DiVincenzo that goes full-throttle as the team resumes play. He’s at his best when he’s leaping in for boards, picking off passes, frustrating opposing ball-handlers and taking what the flow of the game gives him as a scorer. DiVincenzo isn’t going to be the difference between losing in the first round and winning a championship, but he takes a lot of pressure off of the starters by providing energy and competitive spirit as a tertiary contributor.</p>
<p>After the All-Star break, DiVincenzo began to shoot more efficiently from the floor, picking his spots and making smarter decisions with the ball in his hands. His field goal percentage, rebounding numbers and assists were all slowly rising. Though he’s not a very reliable deep-shooter, he even hit 9-of-21 triples in his last four games of the season at 42.9 percent.</p>
<p>Getting a revitalized DiVincenzo in the bubble makes a discernable difference for Milwaukee.</p>
<div class="next-slide slider"> <a class="next-slide-btn" style="background:#222423" data-track="shortcode" data-track-action="next-slide-shortcode" href=https://hoopshabit.com/2020/07/23/milwaukee-bucks-5-x-factors-playoffs/"#"> <span class="title">Next:</span> X-Factor No. 4 </a>
</div><!—pageview_candidate—><hr id="pagebreak"><div id="attachment_392873" class="wp-caption aligncenter">
<img class="size-full wp-image-392873" src=https://hoopshabit.com/2020/07/23/milwaukee-bucks-5-x-factors-playoffs/"https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/fetch/c_fill,g_auto,f_auto,h_2133,w_3200/http%3A%2F%2Fhoopshabit.com%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2Fgetty-images%2F2018%2F08%2F1210893118.jpeg" alt="Milwaukee Bucks" width="3200" height="2133" srcset="https://hoopshabit.com/wp-content/uploads/getty-images/2018/08/1210893118.jpeg 3200w, https://hoopshabit.com/wp-content/uploads/getty-images/2018/08/1210893118-768x512.jpeg 768w" sizes="(max-width: 3200px) 100vw, 3200px"><div class="fs-center-img">
<p class="wp-caption-text" style="width:3200px;">Milwaukee Bucks (Photo by Harry How/Getty Images)</p>
</div>
</div>
<h2>X-Factor No. 4: Giannis has done it in the regular season, but can he keep it up in the playoffs?</h2>
<p>Let’s go through the list of accomplishments we’ve seen from Giannis Antetokounmpo in these last few seasons: He’s become a perennial MVP candidate, one of the most feared defenders in the sport, an influential passer, a dominant rebounder and the most physically-dominant basketball player since Shaquille O’Neal.</p>
<p>Unless you think getting that Defensive Player of the Year award is going to make a big difference in his legacy, the next logical step in his progression toward greatness is the accolade that he’s going to chase for the rest of his career — Becoming an NBA champion. I’d like to think that there’s no way he doesn’t get a ring during his career, but you never know with the depth of talent scattered throughout the league these days.</p>
<p>If Giannis doesn’t get one, he falls into a long line of amazing players whose legacies get pushed aside for those who won the rings. Whether you subscribe to ‘rings culture’ or not, there’s no denying that in a league designed to compete for the title, not winning one is detrimental to a player’s legacy. For Giannis, this season poses the best chance he’s had yet at earning his ring.</p>
<div class="fs-shortcode" data-type="StoryLink" data-theme="light" data-text="Bucks: Khris Middleton’s 3 best games of the season so far" data-url="https://hoopshabit.com/2020/06/30/milwaukee-bucks-khris-middleton-3-best/" data-call-to-action="Related Story"> <div class="story-link-related"> <a class="story-link-related-btn" data-track="shortcode" data-track-action="story-link-related-shortcode" href=https://hoopshabit.com/2020/07/23/milwaukee-bucks-5-x-factors-playoffs/"https://hoopshabit.com/2020/06/30/milwaukee-bucks-khris-middleton-3-best/"> <span class="call_to_action">Related Story:</span> Bucks: Khris Middleton’s 3 best games of the season so far </a> </div>
</div>
<div class="embed ">
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="500" data-dnt="true">
<p lang="en" dir="ltr">So here’s what Giannis was doing at practice today 👀 <a href=https://hoopshabit.com/2020/07/23/milwaukee-bucks-5-x-factors-playoffs/"https://t.co/5qa9yCyjsx">pic.twitter.com/5qa9yCyjsx
<p>— Rachel Nichols (@Rachel__Nichols) <a href=https://hoopshabit.com/2020/07/23/milwaukee-bucks-5-x-factors-playoffs/"https://twitter.com/Rachel__Nichols/status/1285740448246628352?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%22>July 22, 2020</a></p></blockquote>
<p><script async src=https://hoopshabit.com/2020/07/23/milwaukee-bucks-5-x-factors-playoffs/"https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></p></div>
<p>Antetokounmpo has to go into the playoffs expecting that teams will scheme differently to contain him. Even last season when he had the Raptors and Celtics both throwing all-world defenders at him, he still managed to get 25.3 points, 12.4 rebounds, 5.4 assists, and ridiculous 2.2 blocks per game on a decent 48.2 percent. His deep-shooting was uncanny in that stretch, as he hit 14 3-pointers at 36.8 percent in those two series. When the opposition left him open to bait him into shooting, he rose above what we’d seen from him up to that point.</p>
<p>Quite frankly, I don’t think it’s on Giannis to step up in the playoffs. Barring a complete meltdown, he’s going to be the best player on the floor in the majority of games he plays and the final result will come down to whether or not the team around him can step up to the plate. Besides a few bad shooting nights after getting pummeled by the entire opposing team, there’s not much to indicate that Antetokounmpo isn’t a playoff performer.</p>
<p>However, he’s going to keep having to prove it until he gets that ring. Even if/when he does, Giannis will keep having to prove himself until No. 34 hangs in the rafters at Fiserv Forum.</p>
<div class="next-slide slider"> <a class="next-slide-btn" style="background:#222423" data-track="shortcode" data-track-action="next-slide-shortcode" href=https://hoopshabit.com/2020/07/23/milwaukee-bucks-5-x-factors-playoffs/"#"> <span class="title">Next:</span> X-Factor No. 5 </a>
</div><!—pageview_candidate—><hr id="pagebreak"><div id="attachment_387851" class="wp-caption aligncenter">
<img class="size-full wp-image-387851" src=https://hoopshabit.com/2020/07/23/milwaukee-bucks-5-x-factors-playoffs/"https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/fetch/c_fill,g_auto,f_auto,h_2133,w_3200/http%3A%2F%2Fhoopshabit.com%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2Fgetty-images%2F2018%2F08%2F1147923440.jpeg" alt="Milwaukee Bucks" width="3200" height="2133" srcset="https://hoopshabit.com/wp-content/uploads/getty-images/2018/08/1147923440.jpeg 3200w, https://hoopshabit.com/wp-content/uploads/getty-images/2018/08/1147923440-768x512.jpeg 768w" sizes="(max-width: 3200px) 100vw, 3200px"><div class="fs-center-img">
<p class="wp-caption-text" style="width:3200px;">Milwaukee Bucks (Photo by Jonathan Daniel/Getty Images)</p>
</div>
</div>
<h2>X-Factor No. 5: Milwaukee can’t play down to their opponents</h2>
<p>Every point that I’ve brought up ultimately comes down to this theme. If the Bucks can’t uphold the standard they’ve set in this historic season, they’re going to end up sorely disappointed. Of course, the conventions are different and living inside of a bubble adds an unanticipated layer to their pursuit of a title, but at the end of the day, it’s still basketball.</p>
<p>Milwaukee has managed to let teams shoot threes at a higher rate than most of their opponents and are middle-of-the-pack in terms of opponent 3-point percentage. However, they make up for it by packing the paint and holding opponents to only 54.9 percent near the rim, which is four percent better than the second-ranked Toronto Raptors.</p>
<p>Playing to their strengths and sticking to what’s worked all year is going to play into the Bucks’ favor as they pursue Milwaukee’s first title since 1971. They’re a succinct team that has a cornerstone to rely on,<a href=https://hoopshabit.com/2020/07/23/milwaukee-bucks-5-x-factors-playoffs/"https://hoopshabit.com/2020/06/30/milwaukee-bucks-khris-middleton-3-best/"> one of the game’s most underrated wings</a> in Khris Middleton and a full rotation of unique players who can step up in spots.</p>
<div class="fs-shortcode" data-type="StoryLink" data-theme="light" data-text="Giannis continues to grind from beyond the arc" data-url="https://hoopshabit.com/2020/07/22/milwaukee-bucks-giannis-antetokounmpo-arc/" data-call-to-action="Related Story"> <div class="story-link-related"> <a class="story-link-related-btn" data-track="shortcode" data-track-action="story-link-related-shortcode" href=https://hoopshabit.com/2020/07/23/milwaukee-bucks-5-x-factors-playoffs/"https://hoopshabit.com/2020/07/22/milwaukee-bucks-giannis-antetokounmpo-arc/"> <span class="call_to_action">Related Story:</span> Giannis continues to grind from beyond the arc </a> </div>
</div>
<p>As far as the competition goes, there’s no other star in the Eastern Conference that poses a threat as big as Giannis does. While Jayson Tatum and Pascal Siakam have hit another level, they’ve both suffered through peaks and valleys in the postseason. Neither is close to as proven as Giannis is while the other top stars — Joel Embiid, Jimmy Butler, Kemba Walker and Ben Simmons — are all either too inexperienced in the playoffs or have had breakdowns in big moments.</p>
<p>Milwaukee has done a good job against almost all of its potential competition. The only team they’ve struggled with is the Miami Heat because Bam Adebayo makes for a formidable opponent to Giannis and their shooters take advantage of the fact that the Bucks give up a lot of threes. Even with that being the case, Budenholzer has a chance to shake the basketball world’s preconceptions of him by taking control of that matchup if the two teams meet in the postseason.</p>
<p>This is an unprecedented opportunity for the Milwaukee Bucks. There’s never been a season like the one we’re living through right now and if they can break through to win it in spite of the circumstances, their names will be etched into NBA history with one of the greatest stories we could imagine.</p>
<p>There are a lot of factors at play, but let’s not forget — Milwaukee is still the favorite to win it all.</p>
<div class="fs-shortcode" data-type="StoryLink" data-theme="dark" data-text="Who would the Milwaukee Bucks amnesty if the option arises?" data-url="https://hoopshabit.com/2020/07/18/milwaukee-bucks-amnesty-option/" data-call-to-action="Next"> <div class="story-link-next"> <a class="story-link-next-btn" style="background:#222423" data-track="shortcode" data-track-action="story-link-next-shortcode" href=https://hoopshabit.com/2020/07/23/milwaukee-bucks-5-x-factors-playoffs/"https://hoopshabit.com/2020/07/18/milwaukee-bucks-amnesty-option/"> <span class="call_to_action">Next:</span> Who would the Milwaukee Bucks amnesty if the option arises? </a> </div>
</div><!—pageview_candidate—>">