The Milwaukee Bucks are currently 1st in the Eastern Conference with a 53-21 record. They are leading in rebounds per game (RPG) with 48.8 rebounds. Their starting five include Giannis Antetokounmpo, Brook Lopez, Jrue Holiday, Kris Middleton, and Grayson Allen. Giannis, who is a 7-foot forward with a 7 ‘3 wingspan, is one of the most unstoppable players in the league. He is 5th in points per game (PPG) with 31 points, and 3rd in rebounds with 11 RPG. Brook Lopez is holding 1st place for defensive player of the year (DPOY) and is 2nd in blocks per game (BPG), with 2.5 blocks. Jrue Holiday is also an elite defender, getting a steal almost every single game while averaging 7 assists and 18 points. Grayson Allen, who is shooting 40% from the three-point line, is averaging 2 three-pointers per game. This lineup is what makes the team so dominant.

At the very beginning of the season, the Bucks were on a 9-game winning streak. Just a few weeks ago, they were on a winning streak, with 16 games won. The Bucks have a 30-7 record at home and are 23-14 on the road. They are expected to face the winners of the play-in tournament, which could either be the Toronto Raptors or the Chicago Bulls. Both of these teams have no chance of beating the Bucks, as they have a 38-38 record and have been in and out of the play-in position. Milwaukee is nearly guaranteed to make it past the first round and meet either Cleveland or New York in the conference semifinals. Neither of these teams has made it to the semi-finals in years and has no players with experience in the semi-finals. The Bucks are anticipating an easy win for the team they could go against in the semi-finals and see either the 76ers or Celtics in the conference finals. The 76ers have been known to screw up many times in the playoffs, ever since the Toronto Raptors sent them home in the 2019 conference finals. The Celtics made it to the NBA finals last year but lost to the Golden State Warriors, so they have a little more to prove for 2023. However, Milwaukee has been the most dominant team this season. So, even if it’s the 76ers or the Celtics, the Bucks will be able to beat them with their amazing starting 5 that controls both the offensive and defensive side of the game.

If Milwaukee makes it to the NBA finals, who could they see with them? The western conference is being taken over by the Nuggets and the Kings. The play in the tournament is looking to be more exciting than the playoffs, as you might see the Mavericks and Lakers face each other. The finals for the western conference are most likely going to be Nuggets vs Kings. The Nuggets are 1st in the Western Conference, have the 3rd best record with 50-24, and have Nikola Jokić who is averaging a triple-double. The Kings are leading in PPG and 4th in assists per game (APG) with 121 points and 27 assists per game. The team coming out of the western conference finals could potentially be the Nuggets. Denver also has Jamal Murray, who has been outstanding from the 3-point line this season. He is shooting 40% from the three and averaging 2 threes per game. Both teams have amazing shooters, but Nugget’s defense is not looking too good. Jokic is not a great defender, but his being a primetime passer is what’s leading the Nuggets in the western conference. Denver has great scorers like Aaron Gordon, who is one of the most athletic players in the NBA. They also have Kentavious Caldwell- Pope, Micheal Porter Jr, and Reggie Jackson, who have been having their best season. The Nuggets only have Jokic when it comes to rebounding and passing. Milwaukee, on the other hand, has Jrue Holiday for passing and Brook Lopez and Giannis for rebounding. The Bucks have the best defense in the NBA.

The NBA finals of the 2023 season could be the Milwaukee Bucks vs the Denver Nuggets. The Nuggets, as a franchise, never acquired a championship or have even been to the finals. The Bucks won the championship in the 2020-2021 season, so they have more experience and knowledge on how to operate in the finals. The defensive side of Milwaukee is what might lead them to be champions again. The NBA finals championship could be given to the city of Milwaukee again.

By Pranav Parlapall