The Milwaukee Bucks entered the 2024-25 NBA season with championship aspirations, with superstar duo Giannis Antetokounmpo and Damian Lillard on the squad. Their campaign ended in disappointment with another early playoff exit, elite competition simply seems to outplay them every single year. As the Bucks look to reach their championship pedigree again and return to title contenders, there are three clear steps they can take to achieve that goal.
The Bucks struggled to contain quicker, more athletic teams on the perimeter, especially when facing dynamic guards and big wings. Adding versatile defensive players would help address this issue and reduce the burden that lies on Giannis or Brook Lopez. Outside of Dame or Giannis, the Bucks lack consistent shot creation, particularly in late-game situations. Targeting a secondary playmaker to co-star along their great duo, will diversify their offense and make them less predictable in crunch time.
Milwaukee is one of the oldest teams in the league, and age showed during stretches of the season and playoffs. Infusing the roster with young talent with more athleticism will help them compete with the NBA’s young and elite teams. The Bucks should prioritize finding athletic talent at wing or the guard position to help improve their pace and style of energy.
The Bucks can not control whether or not their players get injured, but the team can improve depth to prevent injury. Injuries haven’t just been a problem this season, frequently Milwaukee’s postseason ambitions have been derailed by these unfortunate events. Bolstering the bench with reliable depth at forward and center can help manage minutes for vets and provide insurance.
By focusing on perimeter defense, adding another shot creator, getting younger, and improving depth, the Bucks can better position themselves for deeper runs and opportunities to win. Their window with Giannis and Dame is soon to close, so Milwaukee needs to be urgent with their decisions if they want to return to the glory they once had.
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