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Milwaukee Bucks: Breaking down Week 1 Power Rankings

By TJ Bain

BOSTON, MA - APRIL 24: Giannis Antetokounmpo #34 of the Milwaukee Bucks looks on during the second quarter of Game Five in Round One of the 2018 NBA Playoffs at TD Garden on April 24, 2018 in Boston, Massachusetts. (Photo by Maddie Meyer/Getty Images)
BOSTON, MA - APRIL 24: Giannis Antetokounmpo #34 of the Milwaukee Bucks looks on during the second quarter of Game Five in Round One of the 2018 NBA Playoffs at TD Garden on April 24, 2018 in Boston, Massachusetts. (Photo by Maddie Meyer/Getty Images) /
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The Milwaukee Bucks climbed most power rankings heading into the beginning of the 2018 NBA season. Here’s where they rank.

ESPN’s NBA Power Rankings have the Milwaukee Bucks sitting at No. 9 to begin the season. The Bucks had a near perfect preseason earning them a spot in the top 10.

All-Star foward Giannis Antetokounmpo let the rest of the teams in the league know that the Bucks are the real deal.

Having one of the best offensive scoring teams this preseason, Milwaukee has put themselves right in the conversation of Eastern Conference finals. The departure of the LeBron James out of the East, the opportunity for a new team to take reigns is now.

New head coach Mike Budenholzer is implementing his new offensive system in his first year coaching with the Bucks. Budenholzer was the Atlanta Hawks head coach for five years and was also an assistant coach with the San Antonio Spurs 17 seasons prior to that.

He runs an offensive system similar to legendary head coach Greg Popovich does with the Spurs. Pairing the system with an MVP caliber player in Antetokounmpo will make this team one of the best in the Eastern Conference.

Here’s what Coach Budenholzer had to say about the upcoming season:

"“We have a tremendous opportunity to take the Bucks to the next level. I look forward to working with our group of young and exciting players and helping us evolve in many ways to succeed on the court. … The tremendously supportive fans in Milwaukee and throughout Wisconsin are waiting and ready. Now it’s up to us to put all the pieces together, and I can’t wait to get started.”"

Last season’s trade acquisition in guard Eric Bledsoe will pay dividends this season as he had a full training camp with the team and is 100 percent healthy. The offseason addition of center Brook Lopez will hopefully help stabilize the frontcourt, something this team has needed in the past. He was excited about the team’s new direction heading into the season.

Many experts consider the Greek Freek a top-five player in the league and this preseason proved just that. Antetokounmpo was playing at full MVP level already this preseason looking focused and prepared to put the Bucks on his back and carry them into the playoffs.

The Bucks have everything put in place for them to make the rest of the league Fear the Deer. They tip-off the regular season against the Charlotte Hornets on Wednesday, Oct. 17th. Tune in!

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