Milwaukee Bucks cannot squander another championship opportunity

The Milwaukee Bucks are surprisingly down 2-1 in their first-round NBA Eastern Conference Playoff series with the Miami Heat.

It almost feels like history might repeat itself and of the bad variety.

Last year, it was an injury to Khris Middleton that derailed the Milwaukee Bucks’ hopes of repeating as NBA champs. This year it is the Bucks trying to navigate through the Heat without Giannis Antetokounmpo. He has played only 11 minutes in the series as he battles a lower back contusion.

His status to play in Game 4 is still up in the air.

In the 2020 playoffs, the Bucks were the No. 1 seed. It was the Heat, led by Jimmy Butler, who bounced Milwaukee in five games in the Eastern Conference semifinals.

It is okay to be concerned that the Milwaukee Bucks might squander another opportunity to win a second NBA title during the Giannis era.

The Bucks did show in Game 2 they can dominate the Heat even without Giannis. They need to run the Heat off the three-point line and keep feeding Brook Lopez down low. The series has come down to the Bucks’ lack of execution, which has put them in this hole. Although, credit to the Heat, who are shooting lights out from three in their two victories.

Still, the Bucks cannot afford to walk away with anything during another playoff cycle.

The Bucks are the oldest team in the NBA. 10 players are 30 or older. While Giannis is 28, the other two Bucks’ big three members only have so many prime years left. Khris Middleton will be 32 next season and Jrue Holiday turns 33 in June.

They are not over the hill in NBA terms, but they are getting closer to their performance decline years than their prime.

Middleton was limited to 33 games during the regular season because of knee issues. He can opt out of his contract after the season. He can always sign an extension, but there is a slight chance this is his last year in Milwaukee.

Brook Lopez had a defensive player of the year-worthy season. He is 35 and will be a free agent after the season. His next contract will be a tricky one on how much money and years to give him.

While the Milwaukee Bucks have Bobby Portis ready to step into a starter’s role, Lopez’ size and shot-altering ability is still vital for any contending team.

The new collective bargaining agreement could also impact how much and how many times ownership wants to pay the luxury tax.

The title window was always going to be finite during the Giannis era. This specific period is the best time to get as many rings as possible while Giannis is in Milwaukee. That is why the Bucks need to stop messing around with the Heat and take control of the series.