The Milwaukee Bucks have catapulted to the top of the NBA mountain, becoming the new outright favorite to win the 2022-23 NBA season championship behind an unblemished start to their campaign.
After he was unable to help his team defend the championship last season, Giannis Antetokounmpo has turned into a one-man wrecking crew as the two-time NBA MVP currently leads his team in both points (34.4 PPG) and rebounds (14.0 RPG).
Since their narrow 90-88 win over the Philadelphia 76ers, Milwaukee had been virtually unstable in their next four games, obliterating Houston, Brooklyn, New York, and Atlanta.
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Will the Greek Freak single-handedly carry his team back to championship contention?
Antetokounmpo is on pace to make a historic statistical season after shooting 60.4 percent on the floor in the Bucks’ first five games. The scary part is he’s steadily adding consistent three-point shooting to his repertoire. Giannis is so far shooting 35.3 percent from beyond the arc this season. If there’s one glaring weakness, that would be his subpar free-throw shooting clip at 61.3 percent.
Different from what many believe, the Bucks aren’t just a one-man show because Antetokounmpo is getting significant contributions from veterans like Jrue Holiday (18.0 PPG), Brook Lopez (13.6 PPG) and Bobby Portis (13.0). All-Star shooting guard Khris Middleton is expected to give the team even more offensive firepower when he returns from a torn ligament injury he suffered in Game 2 of the Eastern Conference semis vs. the Boston Celtics.
Only these FOUR players are averaging 30 PTS – 5 REB – 5 AST this season! 🔥🙌
(via @statmuse)#giannis #shaigilgeousalexander #stephencurry #lukadoncic pic.twitter.com/WSyxtJUt8z
— Sportskeeda Basketball (@Basketball_SK) October 30, 2022
With shooters Joe Ingles, Pat Connaughton, and Middleton still sidelined, the Bucks are averaging 113.40 points per game on 45.4 FG% and 34.7 3PT. These numbers are notches below the output of the best offensive teams so far this season. However, Milwaukee’s league-best defense at 103.0 points allowed per game and 41.7 opponents FG makes this squad a tough customer for any team.
Three of the Bucks’ next five games will be at home, including a two-game homestand against the Detroit Pistons on October 31 and November 2. After that, the team will travel to the Twin City to take on the Minnesota Timberwolves on November 4 before hosting the OKC Thunder on the next day, November 5. The Bucks will kick off a three-game road trip against the Hawks on November 7.
