Golden State Warriors: Ranking the remaining NBA Playoffs opponents
By Tony Pesta
1. Milwaukee Bucks
All season long the best team in the NBA has been the Milwaukee Bucks. With their first 60 win season since 1981, the Bucks have proven themselves as legitimate title contenders through the first two rounds of the playoffs.
There isn’t much to say about Giannis Antetokounmpo at this point. The man is quite simply the most unstoppable offensive force the NBA has seen since Shaquille O’Neal was shattering backboards. The Greek Freak has been terrorizing the league, averaging 27.7 points and 12.5 rebounds a game in the regular season en route to leading the MVP race.
However, huge credit must be given not only to the Bucks head coach, Mike Budenholzer, but the talent that has been put around Giannis. He has been able to eat in the paint due to the incredible shooting and playmaking of his teammates.
Khris Middleton, Brook Lopez, Malcolm Brogdon and Eric Bledsoe all finished the regular season with more than 100 3-pointers made. Compare this to last season, when only Middleton, Bledsoe and Snell accomplished this and it’s no wonder the team is doing so much better.
It is now impossible to overload Giannis and force him to pass the ball because his teammates are now capable shooters. Not to mention, Giannis is actually shooting a semi-efficient 32.4 percent from the 3-point line himself.
Milwaukee is without a doubt the biggest threat to the Warriors title hopes. Their sheer length and athleticism will give the Dubs problems, but it is their increased shooting that will really trouble the Warriors. This potential Finals series could prove to be an explosive one.