The Boston Celtics will be the favorites to represent the East in next season’s NBA finals, but in order to do so, the Celtics will first need to get past their chief rivals in the conference. As we continue our ranking of Boston’s biggest threats next season, the Celtics and their fans should underestimate this next team at their own risk.
The Milwaukee Bucks were a disappointment last year. After swinging for the fences to acquire superstar guard Damian Lillard, the 2021 NBA champions floundered. There was lots of drama with at the head coaching position, visible signs of aging from the team’s veterans, and Giannis Antetokounmpo was sidelined by injuries as the Bucks took an early exit in the playoffs. Things should be different for Milwaukee next year. After signing on to be the team’s coach in the middle of the season, Doc Rivers will have the entire summer and training camp period to build the right systems and culture for the team. Expect the Bucks’ defense to return to form, especially if Antetokounmpo is healthy, which will allow Milwaukee to regain its status as a contender in the East and a challenger to the Celtics’ crown.
Let’s take a closer peek at what the Bucks will look like next season.