What’s Next For the Bucks?
After clinching the number one seed in the Eastern Conference and home court advantage, what is next for the Bucks?
The most important thing is to enter the playoffs feeling fresh and feeling like the rotations are somewhat set. You’d have to think the starting five will be Jrue Holiday (PG), Grayson Allen (SG), Jae Crowder (SF), Giannis Antetokounmpo (PF) and Brook Lopez ( C ). But that 5th guy is the key- could it be Pat Connaughton or Joe Ingles? It seems like Bobby Portis is entrenched in that 6th man role. (Comment below if you have an idea for that “5th” guy?)
Also, practically speaking, the Bucks do have two more regular season games. They play Friday April 7th at home against the Memphis Grizzlies and then Sunday vs the Toronto Raptors in Toronto. It stands to reason that for the Bucks and their opponents, those games will “mean more” for them. Toronto is “in” for the play-in tournament but they can still either be the #9 or fall to #10.
Don’t be surprised if Giannis, Jrue and Khris get some additional rest time in these last two regular season games.
The Bucks are currently 58-22. Of course they’d love to go 60-22. But really, some of the dates on the team’s calendar have always felt a certain way. That final game against Toronto has always seemed like a “junk game” where it wouldn’t really matter a ton. Had Jordan Nwora still been on the team you could almost picture him scoring 30 points.
Related: Best Bucks Playoff Match-Ups
Important Dates
The 2023 NBA Play-In Tournament will take place on April 11-14. The first round of the NBA Playoffs starts on April 15. The Bucks will either play then on April 15th (Saturday) or April 16th (Sunday). On the Eastern Conference side the ten playoff teams have already been decided.
Milwaukee will play the worst seed from the play-in tournament. That is, right now, guaranteed to be either Chicago or Toronto.
The 2023 NBA Play-In Tournament will take place on April 11-14. The first round of the NBA Playoffs starts on April 15. The Bucks will either play then on April 15th (Saturday) or April 16th (Sunday). On the Eastern Conference side the ten playoff teams have already been decided.
Milwaukee will play the worst seed from the play-in tournament. That is, right now, guaranteed to be either Chicago or Toronto.
The Middleton “Situation”
It still could hang over this team. He has a player option for next season and he can either opt-out or try to get a MAX deal from the Bucks. Do you make that deal? With some recent change to NBA collective bargaining I’d think you would. Unless there is a real, possible chance to acquire Damian Lillard. That rumor has always been around of late. That, along with the rumor that Steph Curry would like to play with Giannis.
If Milwaukee plays poorly in the playoffs this could become a bigger story.
Middleton will stand to make $40 million dollars on his player option if he takes it. He’ll only not take it if he is really looking for that multi-year extension.
Next Game
Check out the game one, Memphis, preview here.
The 58-22 Milwaukee Bucks take on the 50-30 Memphis Grizzlies Friday Night at home. The Fiserv Forum should be rocking! It should be a celebration of the Bucks clinching the number one seed. The game tips off at 7pm. This will be Memphis’s only visit to Milwaukee unless they meet in the NBA finals.
The Bucks are coming off a great win against Chicago.
With the luxury of having clinched the number one see the place to watch the team might not even be at the games but at practice. Seeing a new install of plays might give us a better clue of what to expect in the playoffs. And of course, those practices are closed to everyone as the Bucks begin to scheme for their run at an NBA Championship.
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