The Milwaukee Bucks are in a crucial phase of the regular season, with their performance in the upcoming games potentially shaping their playoff journey.
Currently holding a strong position, they are second in the Eastern Conference with a record of 47-27. As the playoffs approach, the Bucks’ potential matchups are a hot topic of discussion. The dynamics of the team’s play, their adaptability to different playing styles, and the strategic moves by the coaching staff will all be pivotal in the postseason. With the playoffs often magnifying the strengths and weaknesses of each team, the Bucks’ ability to leverage their matchups will be key to their success.
The anticipation builds as the regular season winds down and the stakes get higher with each game. The Bucks, with their eyes set on the prize, are gearing up for the challenges ahead in the NBA playoffs.
- Boston Celtics (59-16)
- Milwaukee Bucks (47-27), 11.5 GB
- Cleveland Cavaliers (45-30), 14 GB
- New York Knicks (44-30), 14.5 GB
- Orlando Magic (44-31), 15 GB
- Indiana Pacers (43-33), 16.5 GB
- Miami Heat (41-33), 17.5 GB
- Philadelphia 76ers (40-35), 19 GB
- Chicago Bulls (36-40), 23.5 GB
- Atlanta Hawks (35-40), 24 GB
The top six teams in each conference will secure playoff spots. Unfortunately, that’s not the case for the 7th-10th placed teams who will enter the play-in. With the season ending on Sunday, April 14th, the first play-in games will happen on Tuesday, April 16th when the seventh-placed team will host the eighth-placed squad. The winner of that game will earn the no. 7 seed and play the no. 2 seed in the first-round of the playoffs.
The loser of that game will play the winner of the ninth and tenth-placed game on Friday, April 19th. The winner of that contest will earn the eighth seed and face the no. 1 seed in the first round.
If the Bucks end up securing the second seed in the Eastern Conference, they’ll play the winner of the first play-in game mentioned above.
- 76ers
- Heat
- Pacers
- Magic
- Knicks
This isn’t about being scared of any team—I assure you, Milwaukee is not. It’s about being smart and not making the road to the NBA Finals any harder than they have to be. With that in mind, let’s outline three teams the Bucks should hope to avoid in the first-round of the NBA playoffs.
Philadelphia 76ers
Although the Bucks are 3-0 against Philadelphia this season, only one of those games featured Joel Embiid on the court. Embiid is on the brink of a return and will significantly boost the floundering 76ers.
They’ve added a lot of shooting since his absence, which makes them an even more formidable foe. Buddy Hield, Kyle Lowry and Cameron Payne give them a trio of outside shooters who can help space the floor when opponents send a double team at Embiid.
Oddly enough, the two teams have yet to meet in the playoffs during the Giannis Antetokounmpo or Joel Embiid eras. Milwaukee is uniquely positioned to defend Embiid with the mammoth Brook Lopez, but that doesn’t mean it will be easy. If Lopez gets into foul trouble, the assignment will fall to Antetokounmpo or Bobby Portis. Are they up to the task?
Indiana Pacers
These two teams don’t like each other. The Pacers took four of five from Milwaukee this season, talking trash and lighting up the scoreboard every step of the way—including Tyrese Haliburton mocking Damian Lillard’s “Dame Time” celebration.
All of those games happened with Adrian Griffin at the helm of the Bucks, so it will be interesting to see what dynamics Doc Rivers brings to the table. Regardless, Milwaukee struggles with teams like the Pacers (and the Heat), which employ a lot of off-ball movement and shooters running around the perimeter. That alone will challenge the Bucks’ personnel.
Miami Heat
If the Bucks and Heat meet in the playoffs again, it will be equal parts PTSD and the opportunity to exorcise more demons for Milwaukee.
The Heat made quick work of the Bucks in the first round last year, eliminating them in five games as the eight seed. Miami is equally dangerous this time around and would present unique challenges to the Bucks. Duncan Robinson and Tyler Herro’s running dribble hand-offs present problems for the Bucks outside of Jimmy Butler and Bam Adebayo. Robinson just returned from injury, too, but Herro has been out since February 26th with a foot injury.
Milwaukee can’t allow Butler to take over like he did last year. Antetokounmpo has had success stopping him in the past, including completely shutting him down early in the season. Things will likely go terribly wrong if the Bucks don’t immediately return to that matchup.