NFL
By: Nick Andre
2021 was the year of the Milwaukee Bucks. In Game 6 of the Finals, Giannis Antetokounmpo delivered a 50-piece McNugget to defeat the Phoenix Suns en route to an NBA championship. The city went ballistic as they hadn’t felt the feeling of being on top since the days of Kareem Abdul-Jabbar. During their championship parade, the feeling of being on top was contagious for the Bucks. There was nothing that they believed could take them off their throne.
Unfortunately, reality kicked in a year later. The Bucks have been trying to rekindle the feeling of a championship over the past three seasons. In 2022, they were blown out in a Game 7 against the Boston Celtics, which prevented them from another Eastern Conference Finals trip. Two years later, they were bounced in the first round of the NBA Playoffs.
Some reasons the Bucks haven’t won another championship have been out of their control. In 2022, the team missed the presence of Khris Middleton, who was the team’s second scoring option and played a huge role behind their championship. Over the past two seasons, Antetokounmpo has dealt with injuries that have prevented Milwaukee from advancing past the first round.
In 2023, the Bucks took a gamble. They traded their best perimeter defender Jrue Holiday and acquired Damian Lillard from the Portland Trail Blazers. Adding a player like Lillard to a roster is a risk any team is willing to take. Lillard is a star in the NBA who exemplifies confidence. He’s one of the best scorers in the league and has proven to be clutch down the stretch.
To win more championships, teams have to regroup. The Bucks did that by adding Lillard to their roster. He’s a player who was projected to complement Lillard as a scorer and take pressure off of the two-time MVP. Heading into the 2023-24 season, Antetokounmpo and Lillard were projected to be one of the best new duos in the NBA.
Unfortunately, last season was a rollercoaster for the Bucks. It may not show in the record books as they finished the season at 49-33. However, the team struggled to find their footing as a unit. Also, rookie head coach Adrian Griffin was dismissed midway through the year and was replaced by veteran coach Doc Rivers. The question is was the hiring of Rivers the best move? Yes, he has a championship on his resume. However, Rivers’ playoff record has been abysmal since. He’s blown a 3-1 series lead twice and hasn’t led a team to the Conference Finals since 2012.
Not only was the hiring of Rivers in question but the Bucks haven’t gotten the best out of Damian Lillard. Sure, he still has key moments like hitting the game-winner against the Sacramento Kings last season. However, Lillard’s play has been inconsistent and has not benefited the team. Even with the absence of Antetokounmpo last postseason, Lillard’s greatness is still good enough to defeat the Indiana Pacers in the first round. Unfortunately, that wasn’t the case and the Bucks’ season ended early.
Fast forward to this season and the Bucks do not look any better. They grabbed their first win of the season on opening night against the Philadelphia 76ers. However, keep in mind that Philadelphia played without both Joel Embiid and Paul George due to injuries. It was a great day for Milwaukee to start the season on the right note. However, the team has lost four straight since including being dismantled by the Memphis Grizzlies Thursday night.
It’s been one bad loss after another for the Bucks. While other contending teams like the Boston Celtics have found early season success, their season has started on the wrong note. The defense has been the biggest issue for Milwaukee. They rank 24th in Defensive Rating and their lack of effort on that end has been glaring. However, there’s still a lot of time to adjust and turn the season around. But it has to be now before it’s too late.
The decline since the Bucks’ championship season has been glaring for a while now. At this point, it’s uncertain what direction the franchise is going. Giannis Antetokounmpo is growing frustrated while Damian Lillard is not getting any younger. The championship window should be now for the Milwaukee Bucks. If they want to keep their superstar happy, they must do whatever it takes to place their team in position for another title.
