Six months ago, many people were high on the Milwaukee Bucks’ chances of at least reaching the NBA Finals this season shortly after they had traded for future Hall of Famer Damian Lillard.
But things haven’t quite worked out the way they expected to, and they’re now in a troubling state of affairs with the start of the playoffs just days away.
Podcaster and writer Bill Simmons said he doesn’t love their chances in the postseason because they’re “too old and slow,” per The Ringer.
“I think they’re too old and too slow.”
With or without Giannis, @BillSimmons explains why he does not like Milwaukee’s chances in the postseason: pic.twitter.com/pyAZqGNeJJ
— The Ringer (@ringer) April 15, 2024
On paper, Milwaukee has an impressive team, but today’s NBA is about up-tempo basketball, and they don’t seem particularly adept at playing that style.
When they won the world championship in 2021, they were a strong fast-breaking team, but this year, they rank 24th in fast-break points per game, and they’re not quite the defensive team they used to be.
Then there is the matter of Giannis Antetokounmpo’s calf strain, which could keep him out for a while.
The Bucks will face the Indiana Pacers in the first round of the postseason, and the Pacers have the speed, firepower, and transition game to greatly hobble them.
Indiana led the NBA in points, assists, and shooting percentage while ranking second in pace and fourth in fast-break points during the regular season, and as Simmons pointed out, they had Milwaukee’s number in the regular season.
They won their season series against Milwaukee, 4-1, and all five games took place before they traded for forward Pascal Siakam, who has given them another legitimate star alongside guard Tyrese Haliburton.
The Bucks seem ripe for a first-round upset, although if they get things together, they could possibly go deep in the playoffs.
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