Has the Bucks title Window closed?
8 games into the NBA and it is already apparent that this season will be a special one. The big topic of discussion I think is the Milwaukee Bucks, a team with two superstars in Giannis Anteokumpo and Damian Lillard has a record of 1-6 and has lost 6 games in a row. Another key note is that the Cleveland Cavilers have completely demolished any expectation I had for them, and are undefeated at 8-0. Stars like Ja Morant and Cade Cunnigham look great after returning from injury. RJ Barrett is playing like an all-star. And maybe the Warriors aren’t bad? These are some thoughts I’ll be diving into.
The Bucks are not looking good. It’s bad when one of your superstars (Damian Lillard) puts up 4 points on 1-12 shooting, and you lose. It’s even worse when both of your superstars put up 36 points (Damian Lillard) and 34 points (Giannis Antetokumpo) and you still lose! Milwaukee hasn’t won a title since 2021 when Giannis finally reached the mountaintop. They haven’t made an Eastern Conference Finals since that season either. Damian Lillard struggled last season year for the Bucks. His relationship with Giannis Antetokumpo seems nonexistent, and there seems to be no chemistry. With each loss, the Bucks are getting closer and closer to losing their franchise player Giannis Antetokumpo, and if they don’t do something soon to change that, this breakup could get ugly. I think firing Doc Rivers and/or Darvin Ham would certainly help. One thing I think that is important though is that we can’t just blame the coaching. Giannis has his superstar that he can battle with, now he has to step up and be that guy. While he has been great for a very long time, I think he also needs to step into another gear. Despite all of this, I don’t think Milwaukee will raise another banner in a very long time.
Unlike the Bucks, the boys down in Cleveland are hooping. Donovan has been doing what Donovan does, Evan Mobley looks like maybe a potential all-star, and Darius Garland (despite being a little inconsistent) has led the way in many of the major wins for the Cavs. While I do think that Cleveland will come back to earth, this is definitely a great sign for Cavs fans. The Warriors. Another team that I thought would be dead in the water has completely been anything but that. Buddy Hield looks like a new splash brother for Steph, Kuminga has looked very consistent in his last 3-4 games, and Steph Curry still looks like Steph Curry. I do think that like the Cavs the Warriors will come back to earth, however, if they keep this up, we can’t rule them out as contenders in the West.
Ja Morant is doing Ja Morant things, not surprising at at all. Cade Cunningham is playing consistently as always when healthy and I hope this means we will see him make an All-Star team this year. Cade’s potential is sky-high and I think he could easily be an MVP-caliber player in the NBA. The former New York Knick now Raptor, RJ Barrett, has been hooooooping in his first couple of games. Up until November 4th, he was averaging 28.8 points per game, and looking like the best player for Toronto. If RJ reaches another gear, and Scottie Barnes continues his development to superstar, the Raptors could also be deadly in the west.
