A healthy duo of Giannis Antetokounmpo and Damian Lillard will have a good chance of causing trouble in the East next season. The thing is, an ESPN analysis stated that there are four teams that may stop the Milwaukee Bucks from doing just that for the 2024-25 season.
Milwaukee is facing high expectations for the 2024-25 NBA season after a disappointing 49-win campaign the previous year. With the pairing of Antetokounmpo and Lillard, the Bucks are seen as one of the top contenders in the Eastern Conference, but there are still questions about the team’s fit and continuity.
The Bucks’ schedule features several high-profile matchups, including two meetings with the defending champion Boston Celtics and a clash with the revamped Philadelphia 76ers. These games could serve as a barometer for the Bucks’ ability to compete with the elite teams in the East.
According to early projections, the Bucks are projected to finish the season with a 52-30 record, which would place them third in the Eastern Conference behind the Celtics and Sixers. This would represent a significant improvement over their previous season, but it’s unclear if it would be enough to overtake the conference’s top teams.
ESPN Analysis Lists Four Teams As Milwaukee Bucks’ Biggest Rivals For Conquering the East Next Season
Heading into the new season, the Bucks are projected to face four teams for the Eastern Conference. In an analysis done by ESPN, these teams are the Boston Celtics, New York Knicks, Philadelphia 76ers, and Cleveland Cavaliers, and their projected win-loss record.
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 Celtics sit atop our Eastern Conference projections for the third year in a row, and for good reason. They made a dominant run through the East last season, going 64-18 in the regular season, and lost only three games in the postseason to claim the franchise’s 18th championship — ending a 16-year title drought and making Boston the winningest franchise in NBA history.”
The Bucks’ success will hinge on several key factors, including the health and chemistry of their star duo, the continued production of veteran players like Khris Middleton and Brook Lopez, and the coaching of Doc Rivers, who will be looking to prove his worth after a disappointing finish to the previous season.
If everything comes together, the Bucks could be a formidable force in the playoffs. The thing is, they still have work to do to solidify their status as true championship contenders and eventually overcome their four perceived threats in the Eastern Conference.
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