Milwaukee Bucks need these 3 players to play great in the playoffs to win a title
By Todd Welter
The Milwaukee Bucks have one of the best players in the NBA with Giannis Antetokounmpo on the floor. He is the elite superstar the team will need to play great to win a second championship in three seasons.
He is only one of 12 players.
Giannis is going to need help. We saw in last year’s playoffs against the Boston Celtics that he can keep the Bucks in a series after Khris Middleton was lost with an injury. Giannis cannot win a series on his own, and the subpar play of his supporting cast down the stretch cost the Bucks that series.
The Bucks hope with upgraded depth and getting great seasons from the supporting crew that Antetokounmpo can add to his legacy with a second NBA title.
Having the No. 1 seed in the playoffs helps ease the path to at least get to the Eastern Conference Finals. Giannis needs to play like the MVP contender he is to get there and beyond. He will need assistance from his teammates to hoist the Larry O’Brien trophy.
Brook Lopez must bring his NBA Defensive Player of the Year nomination into the playoffs. Bobby Portis must play like the best sixth man in the league. Grayson Allen and Pat Connaughton must knock down threes. Allen needs to find a way not to be a defensive liability in the playoffs too (or at least limit how much of a liability he can be).
Jrue Holiday must remain a top defending point guard and provide timely scoring.
If the Milwaukee Bucks want to hang another championship banner in Fiserv Forum, they particularly need three players to be outstanding in the playoffs.