The Milwaukee Bucks got off to a rocky start this season, but it appears they’re finally piecing things together. After lighting up Philly in game one, Damian Lillard went cold and struggled to find his rhythm with the team for the next few games. However, slowly but surely the preseason Eastern Conference favorites have begun to mesh as a team. Giannis Antetokounmpo has been on a tear as of late, and Lillard has already established his ability to take over a game. The East could very well have to run through the Bucks in the 2023-24 NBA Playoffs.
What do the Milwaukee Bucks’ chances at a title look like through the first few weeks?
The Bucks are just one of a few teams in the East that have had solid starts, the Boston Celtics and Philadephia 76ers being the most notable. While the Bucks were victorious against the Sixers, Philly has gotten scorching hot since their loss. They even took over the East for a quick moment. Again, the current top dog, Boston, is another team that looks like they’re on another level to begin the year. As of now, these are the top two teams that could give the Bucks a run for their money in the East.
Just looking at the East, the Bucks could get into trouble in the playoffs. This isn’t even taking into account the loaded Western Conference. The Bucks’ average Championship odds across betting platforms is +550 according to WIBetting.com. These are very good odds considering the amount of stacked teams in the NBA. The west has a number of powerhouses including a surprising Minnesota Timberwolves team and an even more surprising Oklahoma City Thunder team. This isn’t to mention the reigning champion Denver Nuggets, the Los Angeles Lakers, Clippers, Golden State Warriors, Phoenix Suns, etc.
It will be difficult to make it out of the East, but beating the champion of an unbelievably loaded Western Conference will be on a whole other level. The more time this team has to mesh and learn to fit with one another, the more likely they are to succeed in the playoffs. The fact that they’re clicking this early is an extremely good sign of what is still yet to come. It will be a very interesting postseason, to say the least.
