Season Predictions
Regular Season: The Bucks, though close to the #5 seeded Washington Wizards in the standings, also don’t figure to have a different seeding than their current seeding, #6 out East, indicates. This is so because they have just dealt away star PG/SG Brandon Knight in a deal that showed the front office clearly has an eye on the future, bringing in three prospects including reigning Rookie of the Year PG/SG Michael Carter-Williams, Knight’s replacement. While likely a good for the long-run, not having Knight, who’s enjoying a career year, will significantly hurt Milwaukee’s chances this season. They’re still well above the #7 seeded Heat thanks to Knight, so it seems rather unlikely that the Bucks go either up or down from #6. They’re still a good team without their former star guard, however, as they boast the ridiculously athletic SF/SG Giannis “Greek Freak” Antetokounmpo, PF/C John Henson, SG O.J Mayo, and more. Milwaukee should have no problem staying quite a few games above .500, with only a minor slippage in win percentage.
Projected Record: 43-39
Playoffs Round One
Cleveland Cavaliers (#3) vs. Milwaukee Bucks (#6)
If these two teams played each other five years into the future, it would almost certainly be Milwaukee and their plethora of currently young talent. But in the present, this series is not even particularly close. Superstar SF/PF LeBron James might be able to single-handedly beat this young core, and the fact that he has stars PG Kyrie Irving and PF/C Kevin Love, as well as a variety of complimentary role players simply makes the Bucks no match for this Cleveland team with title aspirations. Carter-Williams, despite his length, is sure to be outshined by Irving, ditto for “Greek Freak” vs. LeBron, and Henson and C/PF Miles Plumlee will be shoved around by the superior duo of Love and C Timofey Mozgov. Besides length in the backcourt, the Cavaliers pretty much win all battles here. Not to fear, Bucks fans, because this team and this core will be back here again next year and for many years to come.
Series Prediction: Cleveland wins 4-1
Regular Season: The Bucks, though close to the #5 seeded Washington Wizards in the standings, also don’t figure to have a different seeding than their current seeding, #6 out East, indicates. This is so because they have just dealt away star PG/SG Brandon Knight in a deal that showed the front office clearly has an eye on the future, bringing in three prospects including reigning Rookie of the Year PG/SG Michael Carter-Williams, Knight’s replacement. While likely a good for the long-run, not having Knight, who’s enjoying a career year, will significantly hurt Milwaukee’s chances this season. They’re still well above the #7 seeded Heat thanks to Knight, so it seems rather unlikely that the Bucks go either up or down from #6. They’re still a good team without their former star guard, however, as they boast the ridiculously athletic SF/SG Giannis “Greek Freak” Antetokounmpo, PF/C John Henson, SG O.J Mayo, and more. Milwaukee should have no problem staying quite a few games above .500, with only a minor slippage in win percentage.
Projected Record: 43-39
Playoffs Round One
Cleveland Cavaliers (#3) vs. Milwaukee Bucks (#6)
If these two teams played each other five years into the future, it would almost certainly be Milwaukee and their plethora of currently young talent. But in the present, this series is not even particularly close. Superstar SF/PF LeBron James might be able to single-handedly beat this young core, and the fact that he has stars PG Kyrie Irving and PF/C Kevin Love, as well as a variety of complimentary role players simply makes the Bucks no match for this Cleveland team with title aspirations. Carter-Williams, despite his length, is sure to be outshined by Irving, ditto for “Greek Freak” vs. LeBron, and Henson and C/PF Miles Plumlee will be shoved around by the superior duo of Love and C Timofey Mozgov. Besides length in the backcourt, the Cavaliers pretty much win all battles here. Not to fear, Bucks fans, because this team and this core will be back here again next year and for many years to come.
Series Prediction: Cleveland wins 4-1