The NBA had to make a decision about the future of the season, especially given that other sports are beginning to open back up. They decided to go the same route that the MLS followed, which was to head to Orlando and have the remainder of the season operate from inside a bubble. The NBA also had to decide which teams would participate and how many games would be played before getting to the playoff. Most would agree that they have found a pretty solid balance by inviting the top 9 teams in each conference to play 8 more regular season games before getting into the meat of the postseason. While those 8 games will see us fall short of the regular number of games played in a season, it is enough to allow the teams to settle the final playoff seedings on the court. There is a lot to break down here, which is why we think it’s a good idea to look at the participating teams individually ahead of the restart. With that in mind, let’s take a gander at the Milwaukee Bucks so you can place your bets against their NBA odds.
Milwaukee Bucks Return to Play Preview
Milwaukee Bucks Season to Date
Last season, the Milwaukee Bucks looked like the team to beat, but they came up short in the playoffs, losing to the eventual champion Toronto Raptors in the Eastern Conference Final. They are back this season with a little bit of a chip on their shoulder and were running away with the East before the lockdown went into effect. The Bucks are sitting at 53-12 on the season and have a 6 ½ game lead over the chasing pack, so they will almost certainly be in as the top seed in the Eastern Conference once we get the next 8 games out of the way.
Given the record that the Bucks have amassed to this point in the season, you will already have guessed that they are able to win just about anywhere. The Bucks went 28-3 at home before the lockdown, while also picking up 25 more wins on the road. If any team is capable of excelling under these conditions, it may well be the Bucks.
You could argue that Milwaukee have has a bit of an easier schedule, as they have had 40 games against teams sitting below .500, of which they have won 38. That said, they also have a winning record against the best teams in the league, going 15-10 against teams above .500. This is a team that is offensively gifted, averaging 118.8 PPG, which is best in the league. They are also strong on the defensive side of the court, giving up 107.4 PPG, which has them top 5 in defense.
Prediction for the Milwaukee Bucks
When you look at the other teams in the Eastern Conference, you are hard pressed to find one that could take out the Milwaukee Bucks in a series. With that in mind, I think it will be the Bucks who emerge victorious from the Easter Conference. I also think that they will have a legitimate shot at winning it all in Orlando.
