The 2023-2024 Milwaukee Bucks entered the season with a confused taste in their mouths. After boasting the best record in the NBA for the third time in five years, they were shockingly bounced out of the playoffs in the first round by the Miami Heat. This disappointment led to a head coaching change, with Adrian Griffin taking the reins after Mike Budenholzer’s departure.
The team then traded for Damian Lillard right before the season started, so expectations have never been higher despite the misery. Unfortunately, the team got off to a rough start, at least by their standards, and they fired Griffin despite the team having a 30-13 record under the rookie HC.
The Doc Rivers fiasco has been, well, a fiasco. Things have gotten better since the All-Star break, and the team is currently sitting in 2nd place, a long 9 games behind the red-hot Celtics. The playoffs are a given at this point, so let’s take an early look at who the Bucks would prefer to play in each round of the playoffs.
Wild Card Round – Milwaukee Bucks vs. Philidelphia 76ers
Giannis Antetokounmpo and Joel Embiid’s battles for MVP supremacy would reignite, as they’d finally meet each in the playoffs for the first time (if you can believe it). One player’s reputation would be completely diminished, losing in the first round to another all-time great.
Doc Rivers and Damian Lillard’s presence would also add to the roast if the Bucks lost the series, but given that Giannis is 26-8 throughout his career against the 76ers, things would be optimistic for the Bucks. Besides, everyone knows Doc Rivers at least gets his team to the 2nd round, right?
Divisional Round – Milwaukee Bucks vs. New York Knicks
The bright lights of Madison Square Garden could play host to a potential 2nd round matchup between the Bucks and Knicks given their current placement in the standings. A series that would undoubtedly get viewership up as the stakes would be high for the Bucks to get over the Doc Rivers 2nd round allegations. The Knicks too have struggled to get past this round for a while.
The game in the paint would be talked about the most, but the perimeter matchups would be exciting TV as well.
Conference Championship – Anyone But The Celtics
The Bucks would fare well against the Cavaliers, Magic, and Pacers. Even the Heat wouldn’t be too bad, and it would be great for the team to get revenge. The Celtics are the only team the Bucks would fear, for many reasons.
The Celtics right now are the team to beat in the NBA. The Bucks and Nuggets have their concerns, but the only concern for the Celtics is whether everyone can stay healthy. Tatum, Portzingis, and company should play well in the playoffs if they can make it there.
Giannis has a 17-17 record against the Celtics, so the matchup is pretty even. Hence why the Bucks shouldn’t anticipate even a 7 game series against Boston. Once again, the main caveat is that Milwaukee would like to get revenge after last year.
NBA Finals – Milwaukee Bucks vs. Los Angeles Lakers
Giannis has a pretty poor record against the Nuggets and Warriors. The Thunder are young and the Bucks would fare well, but it’s unlikely they’ll reach the finals despite how hot they are. While the Lakers are only in 9th place, there’s no doubt Lebron and the LA squad can get hot and beat anybody in the postseason. The Bucks would be a hard team to beat, though, so Milwaukee would prefer for the Lakers to be their West Coast counterparts come finals time.
