NBA news: Despite the fact that the Milwaukee Bucks suffered a miserable first-round exit in the NBA Playoffs this past season, it would still be a complete travesty if one were to overlook them as legitimate title contenders in 2023-24. The Bucks made the necessary moves this summer to give themselves a real chance of competing for the championship again this coming season, and you can be sure that Giannis Antetokounmpo and Co. will be gunning for that title from the get-go.
NBA News: Malika Andrews Says Bucks, Celtics Still in East’s ‘Upper Echelon’
ESPN’s Malika Andrews completely agrees with this notion. The host of NBA Today recently discussed the top teams in the Eastern Conference, which prompted her to give the defending East champions Miami Heat their flowers. However, when it comes to the top dog in the conference, the anchor believes that it still has to be the Milwaukee Bucks:
“When we look at all the moves in the Eastern Conference, still we look at Miami as the team that was able to represent the East last year in the Finals,” Andrews said. “When we talk about the conference as a whole, we still look at who? The Milwaukee Bucks and we look at the Boston Celtics as that upper echelon.”
“When we look at all the moves in the East. We look at Miami as the team that was able to represent the East last year in the Finals. When we talk about the conference as a whole, we still look at who?— The Milwaukee Bucks & Boston Celtics as that upper echelon”- @malika_andrews pic.twitter.com/YiAsxtmmKn
— Dru (@dru_star) July 25, 2023
As Andrews said, the Boston Celtics are also going to give the Bucks a run for their money in the East. Much like Milwaukee, the Celtics have been making some big moves in the offseason as they too look to bounce back in 2023-24.
We also can’t overlook Jimmy Butler and the Heat, though. After all, it was Miami who took out both the Bucks and the Celtics in the playoffs. They will be out for blood yet again this year.
NBA News: It All Starts With Giannis Antetokounmpo
For the Milwaukee Bucks, there’s no denying that it all starts and ends with Giannis Antetokounmpo. Of course, the players he has around him will play an undeniably integral role for the Bucks this coming season, but at the end of the day, Milwaukee will only go as far as where the former back-to-back MVP will take them.
A clear testament to this fact is how the Bucks faltered against the Heat in the first round with Giannis sidelined. Antetokounmpo returned for the final two games of that series, but he clearly wasn’t at full strength. However, if Giannis is able to remain healthy this time around, then surely, the sky is going to be the limit for Milwaukee.
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