With the announcement of the renewal of two-time NBA Most Valuable Player Giannis Antetokounmpo, the Milwaukee Bucks are shaping up as the wide favorites to repeat in the Central Division of the Eastern Conference.
The Greek striker has two consecutive seasons with the Bucks with the best record in the league and ‘MVP’, something that has not happened since Stephen Curry and the Golden State Warriors did so from 2014 to 2016.
With a key acquisition and the peace of mind that his superstar will remain in the city for quite some time, Milwaukee has no real competition at Central.
Let’s take a look at the Bucks themselves and the rest of the teams in their division.
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Andre Drummond puts the shot just before halfway down the track when time ran out in the first quarter and celebrates with his teammates.
The Cavaliers had the worst record of the conference last season with a 19-46 mark. They also recorded the worst defensive efficiency (114.8 points allowed for every 100 possessions). Because of this, they selected with the fifth turn of the draft Isaac Okoro, 1 Auburn exaler specialist in defense and with great success in field goals.
JB Bickerstaff will return as coach, after replacing John Beilein a few months ago. The young coach will hand over the team’s ‘keys’ to base Collin Sexton, who will be backed by veterans Kevin Love and Andre Drummond, among others. The bench also features figures like owner Darius Garland or six-season striker Larry Nance Jr.
The post-LeBron era is still heavy on a Cleveland that, after combining for 158 wins from 2015 to 2018, only added 38 in the last two tournaments. Betting on youngsters takes time, so a new season out of the playoffs would come as no surprise.
Those that follow: Sexton, Love, Drummond, Garland, Nance Jr., Kevin Porter Jr., Dante Exum, Cedi Osman, Dylan Windler, Matthew Dellavedova, Charles Matthews, Marques Bolden, Levi Randolph.
high: Okoro, JaVale McGee, Damyean Dotson and Thon Maker.
low: Tristan Thompson, Matt Mooney, Ante Zizic, Jordan Bell and Alfonzo McKinnie.
Ranking: 15 in the Eastern Conference during the 2019-2020 tournament.
projection: 22 victories
Switching Gears ⚙️ pic.twitter.com/oqeMTnnhep
– Detroit Pistons (@DetroitPistons) December 14, 2020
The Pistons were, along with the Cavaliers, the worst team in the Eastern Conference during the last 20-46 record.
The board put the needle in its already ‘eternal’ reconstruction (they have only advanced to the postseason twice during the last 11 tournaments), and only four players will return to the team. Among them, the veteran duo of Blake Griffin and Derrick Rose who, if kept healthy (his career says otherwise), could have some value for change throughout the season.
His best player, Christian Wood, was signed and traded to the Houston Rockets. Instead, the Pistons acquired Jerami Grant, a key piece in the Denver Nuggets who reached the conference finals that year.
In the draft they selected to the base Killian Hayes, the French player who higher has been chosen coming from his country. He recorded 6.2 assists in the EuroCup.
Those that follow: Rose, Griffin, Rescue Doumbouya and Svi Mykhailiuk.
high: Grant, Hayes, Mason Plumlee, Jahlil Okafor, Josh Jackson, Dewayne Dedmon, Isaiah Stewart, Saddiq Bey, Saben Lee, Delon Wright, Dzanan Musa and Rodney McGruder.
low: Wood, Langston Galloway, John Henson, Brandon Knight, Thon Maker, Jordan McRae, Derrick Walton Jr., Jordan Bone, Louis King, Bruce Brown, Luke Kennard, Khyri Thomas and Tony Snell.
Ranking: 13 in the Eastern Conference during the 2019-2020 tournament.
projection: 20 victories
The Bulls, who lived a nightmare with their former manager and coach, revolutionized the franchise in search of a reaction. John Paxson and Gar Formen were fired from management, as were controversial coach Jim Boylen who had a 39-84 record in the last two tournaments.
In his place came Arturas Karnisovas and Marc Eversley, who hired former Oklahoma City Thunder coach Billy Donovan.
That said, they ‘surprised’ the draft by choosing with the fourth round Patrick Williams, Florida State winger who won the Sixth Man of the Year at the ACC conference. It is the first pick in a ‘top 5’ draft that averaged less than 10 points per game since the ‘shot clock’ was introduced in college basketball in 1985-86.
The main news will be that Coby White will be in charge of owning a team, which already has the talented escort Zach Lavine and wing-pivot Lauri Markkanen, among others.
The following: White, Markkanen, Lavine, Otto Porter, Devon Dotson, Daniel Gafford, Cristiano Felício, Denzel Valentine, Tomáš Satoranský, Adam Mokoka, Thaddeus Young, Chandler Hutchison, Zach Norvell, Ryan Arcidiacono, Wendell Carter Jr., Temple Garrett, Luke Kornet and Simisola Shittu.
high: Williams, Marko Simonovic, Devon Dotson and Garrett Temple.
low: Kris Dunn, Shaquille Harrison, Adam Mokoka and Max Strus.
Ranking: 11 in the Eastern Conference during the 2019-2020 tournament.
projection: 30 victories
The Pacers are the Bucks’ main rivals in the Central Division, led by multifaceted striker Domantas Sabonis, as well as baseman Malcolm Brogdon and … Victor Oladipo? During the offseason, some alleged statements from the escort came to light telling his rivals that he “wanted” to play in another destination.
Indiana fired his coach Nate McMillan and was replaced by Nate Bjorkgren, once an assistant at the Toronto Raptors. The Pacers had a 45-28 record in the last tournament.
The following: Sabonis, Oladipo, Brogdon, Myles Turner, Rayshaun Hammonds, Goga Bitadze, Amida Brimah, Justin Holiday, Jeremy Lamb, Kelan Martin, TJ Warren, Brian Bowen, Edmond Sumner, Aaron Holiday, Jalen Lecque, Doug McDermott, JaKarr Sampson, TJ McConnell and Naz Mitrou-Long.
high: Cassius Stanley
low: Brian Bowen II, Alize Johnson, Naz Mitrou-Long and TJ Leaf.
Ranking: 4th in the Eastern Conference during the 2019-2020 tournament.
projection: 40 victories
The highlight of the Bucks starting track. pic.twitter.com/bhSooNCnrX
– Milwaukee Bucks (@Bucks) December 19, 2020
In a move that had its prize with the renewal of Antetokounmpo, the Bucks acquired the underrated – and one of the most complete bases in the NBA – Jrue Holiday. The now ex-Pelicans striker will join forces with the Greek and Khris Middleton in search of this coveted Final that is so resisted by Giannis.
According to Elias Sports Bureau, Antetokounmpo and Lebron James (2008-10) are the only players to win the league’s ‘MVP’ and have the best record in seasons and not play the coronation dance not only in the NBA, but in plus NFL, MLB and NHL.
Giannis, twice Most Valuable Player, will be looking for his third in a row, something not seen since Larry Bird did so from 1983 to 1986.
Those that follow: Antetokounmpo, Middleton, Thanasis Antetokounmpo, Donte Divencenzo, Brook López, Tory Craig, Pat Connaughton, DJ Wilson, Sam Merrill, Treveon Graham and Bryn Forbes.
high: Holiday, DJ Augustin, Bobby Portis, Nik Stauskas, Jaylen Adams, Jordan Nwora, Sam Merrill and Rayjon Tucker.
low: Eric Bledsoe, George Hill, Wesley Matthews, Sterling Brown, Robin Lopez, Kyle Korver, Frank Mason, Cameron Reynolds, Ersan Ilyasova and Marvin Williams.
Ranking: 1st in the Eastern Conference during the 2019-2020 tournament.
projection: 50 victories