© Benny Sieu-USA TODAY Sports
Milwaukee Bucks rise to no. 5 in The Athletic’s Power Rankings
After a lackluster stretch where they lost seven of ten games, the Milwaukee Bucks have gotten into a groove, winning six straight and displaying the kind of ferocious defense that helped propel them to the 2021 NBA title. The Bucks’ improvement has not gone unnoticed, as they have climbed to the number five spot in the latest edition of The Athletic’s NBA Power Rankings.
Are the Bucks for real now?
Milwaukee has had a rollercoaster season, alternating impressive victories with head-scratching losses to teams that, on paper, aren’t in the same league as them. However, their recent winning streak has shown that the Bucks can dominate any opponent when they are firing on all cylinders.
However, it’s worth noting that of the six victories the Bucks have consecutively won, only two have come against formidable opponents. On that stretch, Milwaukee has faced off against a Philadelphia squad that didn’t have Joel Embiid, the lackluster Charlotte Hornets twice, and the middling Chicago Bulls.
“Have the Bucks actually figured out their defense, or are they just playing the Hornets and Bulls a lot?” asked Zach Harper.
True test coming
The Bucks’ next stretch of games, though, will be no walk in the park. Over Milwaukee’s next nine games, they’ll battle the likes of the Golden State Warriors, Los Angeles Lakers, Boston Celtics, Oklahoma City Thunder, and the Phoenix Suns. How the Bucks fare in these upcoming games will provide a better gauge of their defensive abilities and potential.
“The defensive numbers are much better under Doc Rivers so far, but these next seven games will be the ultimate test. They have the second-toughest schedule the rest of the season, so the Bucks will be put through the fire. It will either crumble them by the playoffs or make them be as ready to go as anybody,” Harper added.
