After a disappointing run last season, the Milwaukee Bucks are aiming for a better campaign when the NBA returns soon. However, an ESPN analysis has placed the Giannis Antetokounmpo-led team in a position they’re not hoping for.
The 2023-24 season was a significant one for the Bucks. After a disappointing first-round exit in the previous playoffs, the team made some major roster moves, including the acquisition of All-Star guard Damian Lillard in a three-team trade.
The season started with Adrian Griffin as the new head coach, but he was dismissed midway through the year despite the team having the second-best record in the Eastern Conference and the NBA. Doc Rivers was then hired as the new head coach, bringing his wealth of experience to the team.
Despite clinching their eighth straight playoff berth, the Bucks faced adversity with injuries to key players like Antetokounmpo and Lillard. This left them shorthanded in the first-round matchup against the Indiana Pacers, and they were ultimately eliminated in six games, suffering a first-round upset for the second consecutive year.
The Bucks’ season was marked by roster changes, coaching turmoil, and injury woes, which ultimately resulted in an early playoff exit. The team will look to bounce back in the 2024-25 season and regain their championship aspirations.
Milwaukee Bucks Projected To Finish Fifth in The East According to ESPN Analysis
Although the Bucks have a full offseason to use for the coming campaign, there are still some signs that lead to a mediocre finish for the team. This can be seen in an NBA analysis conducted by ESPN for the upcoming season.
The contenders
1. Boston Celtics: 61-21
2. New York Knicks: 53-29
3. Philadelphia 76ers: 52-30
4. Cleveland Cavaliers: 50-32
5. Milwaukee Bucks: 49-33
6. Orlando Magic: 47-35
“The Milwaukee Bucks, after another early exit from the postseason, will lean on continuity, with superstar duo Giannis Antetokounmpo and Damian Lillard and head coach Doc Rivers running it back for a second season together,” the ESPN article stated.
In another NBA analysis by Bleacher Report, the Bucks are projected to improve upon their 49-win season with a 51-31 record for the 2024-25 season. This would place them third in the Eastern Conference behind the Sixers and Celtics.
In all of this the key factor is the availability of Antetokounmpo, as the Bucks’ regular-season success heavily depends on their superstar’s health. In any case, all will be known when the NBA returns later this year.
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