Evaluating the Milwaukee Bucks at the All-Star Break

The NBA Trade Deadline and All-Star Weekend have come and gone, so that means we’re in the home stretch of the 2019-20 NBA season. In this serious post-All-Star Break, we’ll go over the outlook for every team in the NBA. Here, we’ll provide a short glimpse at championship odds and playoff chances for each team. Also highlighted are key injuries to note and a fantasy basketball player to watch the rest of the season.

Where do the Milwaukee Bucks stand at the All-Star Break?

Record: 46-7
Playoff Chances: 100%
Championship Odds: +275
Division Odds: -10000
Conference Championship winner: -139

The Bucks are making one of quietest pushes for 70 wins that I can ever remember. This team is an absolute juggernaut and rightfully became the favorites to win the NBA Championship in the week prior to the All-Star break. Oddly, this team rarely draws any media attention. When the Bucks are talked about on ESPN, it’s usually in the context of what big market team will Giannis Antetokounmpo sign with in the future.

Milwaukee basically has the Central Division already wrapped up and it doesn’t look like anybody will challenge for the top seed in the East. This could cause the Bucks to take their foot off the gas pedal in the second half of the season. Giving core players nights off for rest seems fairly likely as the Bucks get ready for a playoff push.

Prediction: Bucks win the title and Giannis wins MVP.

Key Injuries for Milwaukee Bucks

George Hill, PG (hamstring) — out
Kyle Korver, SG (back) — out

Antetokounmpo missed the last two games heading into the All-Star break for personal reasons. His son was born and he took some time away from the team, so I excluded from the injury report. There’s no reason to think Giannis will miss games for this following the break.

To be as good as the Bucks have been this season, health is a must. They have been lucky to avoid significant injuries. Khris Middleton missed a few games and everybody else has been healthy for the most part. Korver and Hill both missed time heading into the All-Star break, but it doesn’t seem to be anything too significant. Both are expected back in the near future.

Fantasy basketball spotlight: Giannis Antetokounmpo

After winning the MVP last season, Giannis is dominating again. At -400, the odds indicate he’s running away with the award for the second consecutive year. For fantasy purposes, his counting stats are up this season. Antetokounmpo is averaging career high in points (30.0) and rebounds (13.5). Giannis has also added the deep ball to his game, averaging 1.5 made threes per game on 31.3% shooting. The one concern for season long leagues is his free throw percentage. He’s shooting just 61.4% from the line, making it almost necessary to punt the category if he’s on your team. Rest down the stretch could also be an issue once the Bucks wrap up the top seed in the East.

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