The NBA will see a new NBA Champion crowned this year. The defending champion Milwaukee Bucks dropped Game Seven on the road 109-81. With another season in the Bucks, the time has come to reflect on the season and look ahead to the next. Without a doubt, Milwaukee will be back next season looking to get back to the Finals.
Giannis Antetokounmpo Continues to Get Better
Giannis Antetokounmpo had 25 points, 20 rebounds, and nine assists in the Bucks’ Game Seven loss to the Boston Celtics. This followed a Game Six performance, another Bucks loss, in which he scored 44 points, grabbed 20 rebounds, and dished out six assists. Giannis was, arguably, the only Bucks player to elevate his game in this series. Everyone knows that he will be back next year hungry for another title.
Another season in the books watching Giannis Antetokounmpo somehow get better. What a season and what a damn series to finish off. Still in awe with what he can push his body to do on a nightly basis. Just incredible.
— Kane Pitman (@KanePitman) May 15, 2022
For the playoffs as a whole, Giannis averaged 31.7 points, 14.1 rebounds, and 6.8 assists per game. There is no doubt: when Giannis is on the floor, the Bucks will always have the most important piece they need to win the game.
Giannis is the 1st player in NBA playoff history to record 200 points, 100 rebounds, and 50 assists in a series.
🎰 @paysbig pic.twitter.com/SeiZYmZR8u
— Milwaukee Bucks (@Bucks) May 15, 2022
The Bucks Need Khris Middleton
When Khris Middleton went down in the opening series against the Chicago Bulls, everyone knew the Bucks’ chances of winning in the semi-finals went down. There is no question that if Middleton had been healthy, the Bucks probably would have won the series. Former Bucks player Richard Jefferson certainly thinks so.
If Middleton was playing, this series would have been over in 6.
— Richard Jefferson (@Rjeff24) May 12, 2022
There is no doubt that Khris Middleton is a streaky player. When he goes cold, it is frustrating to watch. However, the Bucks do not win the Finals last season without him, and they obviously could not get past Boston without him. He will still likely be the target of irrational insults next year, too; but he really should not be. This series has proved his value.
The Bucks Need Shooters
The Milwaukee Bucks lost the series against the Boston Celtics because they could not make their three-point shots. As a team, Milwaukee shot just 27.9% from three against Boston. This includes a woeful 4-33 from three (12.1%) in Game Seven. Typically hot shooters went cold all series, including:
- Grayson Allen- 20.8%
- Jrue Holiday- 30.0%
- Bobby Portis- 22.7%
- Brook Lopez- 7.7%
Simply put, the Milwaukee Bucks need some shooters. That will be a definite area of need in free agency.
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