Continuity for the win!
That is the image the Milwaukee Bucks are attempting to color heading into coaching camp. Giannis Antetokounmpo is again and wholesome, Damian Lillard is extra snug and settled, and Doc Rivers may have a full coaching camp as coach, and this workforce is able to contend.
Nevertheless, look carefully at that image and it seems Father Time is strolling over and shutting the championship window on this workforce. Possibly it is already closed, but when it is nonetheless open it will not be in a 12 months.
That is a harsh factor to say a few workforce with Antetokounmpo, a prime three participant on the planet in his prime, a power of nature on each ends of the courtroom who glides previous gamers as he drives the lane, loves the brand new physicality allowed within the league, and has confirmed he will be the perfect participant on a championship workforce.
Nevertheless, Father Time stays undefeated and the mixture of age and damage historical past piles the stress on this workforce — Milwaukee is getting previous quick. Have a look at the questions this workforce faces:
• Damian Lillard is 34 and is coming off a tough season by his requirements (on and off the courtroom), plus the historical past of small guards of their 30s will not be a great precedent.
• Brook Lopez is 36 and seems to have misplaced a step.
• Khris Middleton is 33 and had offseason surgical procedure on each ankles.
• New additions Delon Wright and Taurean Prince are additionally on the opposite aspect of 30. This workforce is older and never very deep.
Regardless of all these issues, Milwaukee enters this season as a official title contender, and with the continuity they lacked a season in the past. Nevertheless, this roster has no margin for error and a ticking clock — it appears like a must-win season for the Bucks. Other teams around the league know that and are watching, ready to see if the ultra-competitive Antetokounmpo turns into pissed off and would possibly need out.
We’re a good distance from that — Antetokounmpo signed an extension with the workforce a 12 months in the past — and for Bucks followers there are many causes to be optimistic:
• Giannis Antetokounmpo. If he had been wholesome a season in the past, they possible would have overwhelmed the Pacers and superior out of the primary spherical (and who is aware of how far). Antetokounmpo has performed in three playoff video games throughout the previous two seasons (each first-round exits), get him to the playoffs wholesome and issues look completely different.
• Damian Lillard is poised for a bounce-back season, one the place he’s extra snug subsequent to Antetokounmpo in Rivers’ system. He might by no means get again to being peak 2017-19 Lillard, however he can (and I count on will) be higher.
• Continuity not drama — particularly no mid-season teaching adjustments. No matter one thinks of the firing of Adrian Griffin and if it was deserved, your entire scenario was disruptive. No matter one thinks of Doc Rivers, he is a gentle NBA coach with a system and who is sweet at smoothing egos. Simply having him all season settles issues down.
• Gary Trent Jr. is an improve from Malik Beasley. Jon Horst and the Bucks entrance workplace had a robust offseason when it comes to placing higher depth and position gamers across the core. Trent Jr. was a steal, and Prince and Wright will add wanted depth.
That every one sounds good — if every part goes proper. In an East the place Boston is established as elite and each Philadelphia and New York upgraded to problem them, Milwaukee wants issues to interrupt their solution to be a part of that dialog.
The Bucks title hopes are constructed on a easy premise: Antetokounmpo and Lillard shall be one of many elite duos within the league.
They completely will be… however for the way lengthy?
Which is why the window feels prefer it’s closing, and the stress is on the Bucks to win and win large this 12 months.
