Bucks Wrap up Regular Season
Up Next- The NBA Playoffs
Milwaukee ended the 2022-2023 NBA season with a 58-24 record. They won the Eastern Conference #1 seed by beating Boston by one game. Boston finished the season with a 57-25 record.
Keep an Eye here at Wisportsheroics for more up to date Bucks news throughout the playoffs.
Game One of the 2023 postseason will be on Sunday April 16th. The Bucks will play the worst remaining team left in the Eastern Conference.
THE NBA PLAYOFFS BRACKET IS SET 🏀🔥 pic.twitter.com/yOKUXUhI9g
— NBA TV (@NBATV) April 9, 2023
The Bucks finished their season against Toronto, in Toronto, and lost 121-105. Lindell Wigginton ended the game as Milwaukee’s leading scorer with 17 points. He also was the leading scorer Friday night against Memphis. On Friday Wigginton scored 25 points. It is unlikely he will play much, if at all, in the playoffs.
While Milwaukee lost both Friday and Sunday the team was able to rest a ton of guys. Now, heading into the playoffs, Milwaukee should have a full week on top of that rest to hopefully get some guys ready. Arguably the most effective guy they were able to rest was Khris Middleton.
Can Middleton Play? Can he be effective?
If Milwaukee expects to win another NBA Championship they are going to need strong production from Jrue Holiday, Giannis, and from Khris Middleton. Recently coach Budenholzer spoke on Khris Middleton’s injury:
“It’s just kind of a right knee soreness, a re-aggravation of kind of something we’ve been working with him on all year. That’s what I got.”
So there is hope and optimism that with some pain management, Middleton can play.
But will he be effective?
So far this season he has played in 33 games and started 19 of them. You can not understate just the “mental” component and advantage Middleton gives this team. The Bucks are 25-8 with Middleton this weekend. They need him to be able to play. Availability will be his best ability.
Then again, this is a new season. Check out the tweet below as kinda proof that NBA stats can be deceiving.
Two of the three top scorers in the NBA failed to make the playoffs this season.
The last time this happened was 2004-05 👀 pic.twitter.com/DB67111U0O
— NBA on ESPN (@ESPNNBA) April 9, 2023
Season Stats and Highlights
Brook Lopez led the team with 2.5 blocks a game. He is in the running for defensive player of the year. He is tied for second in the NBA in blocks per game. But his overall rim protecting presence has been what has really helped this team.
Jrue Holiday ended up being 9th in the NBA in assists per game (7.4). Holiday was also 25th in the NBA in steals per game.
Of course, the highlight for the team in terms of statistics in the performance from MVP candidate Giannis Antetokounmpo. He ended the season averaging 31.1 points per game (5th in the NBA). Giannis also ended the season averaging 11.8 rebounds a game, tied for 2nd overall.
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