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Milwaukee Bucks: 5 X-Factors for the Playoffs

By Brian Sampson

PHOENIX, ARIZONA - MARCH 04: Eric Bledsoe #6 of the Milwaukee Bucks sits on the bench during the first half of the NBA game against the Phoenix Suns at Talking Stick Resort Arena on March 04, 2019 in Phoenix, Arizona. (Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images)
PHOENIX, ARIZONA - MARCH 04: Eric Bledsoe #6 of the Milwaukee Bucks sits on the bench during the first half of the NBA game against the Phoenix Suns at Talking Stick Resort Arena on March 04, 2019 in Phoenix, Arizona. (Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images) /
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BOSTON, MA – NOVEMBER 1: Khris M iddleton #22 of the Milwaukee Bucks dribbles against the Boston Celtics during the second half at TD Garden on November 1, 2018 in Boston, Massachusetts. (Photo by Maddie Meyer/Getty Images)
BOSTON, MA – NOVEMBER 1: Khris M iddleton #22 of the Milwaukee Bucks dribbles against the Boston Celtics during the second half at TD Garden on November 1, 2018 in Boston, Massachusetts. (Photo by Maddie Meyer/Getty Images) /

The Milwaukee Bucks are gearing up for a deep playoff run. However, if they want to accomplish their ultimate goal, these five players must step up.

With the regular season coming to an end, the Milwaukee Bucks are at a familiar place in the standings. Well, familiar for this year at least. The Bucks have been at the top of the Eastern Conference Standings all season long and are just a couple of games from locking up the number one overall seed.

For quite some time in the regular season, the Bucks have shifted their focus from simply reaching the playoffs to reaching the Eastern Conference Finals and even the NBA Finals. Giannis Antetokounmpo has been dominating the NBA and is one of the best players in the game today.

The pecking order behind Antetokounmpo has been a heated topic of discussion all season long. However, Middleton is clearly their second-best player and is recognized as so by his peers and others across the NBA landscape. Unfortunately, his maddening inconsistency has created doubts in many fans minds about whether he’ll truly earn the max contract he’s set to receive this offseason.

After Middleton, the Bucks are loaded with players that make them one of the deepest teams in the league. Eric Bledsoe, Malcolm Brogdon, Brook Lopez and Nikola Mirotic are all capable of getting hot and playing second fiddle to Antetokounmpo as well. With so many capable options, Milwaukee is in a great spot. Let’s run through them and name the five x-factors for the Bucks if they want to have a deep and successful playoff run.

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