At the onset of this season, the Milwaukee Bucks stumbled out of the gate. Gamblers became frustrated with the inconsistent play of the Bucks. Milwaukee was a team that seemed to be reading its headlines. However, Milwaukee has played much better in the past two months. The Bucks have regained status as an NBA Playoffs betting championship favorite. Most important of all, the Bucks paid with far greater reliability as the regular season wound down. Gamblers see Milwaukee as a team as capable as any in the Eastern Conference as the postseason begins.
2022 NBA Playoffs – Milwaukee Preview
| Date and Time: | Playoffs Begin on April 16, 2022 |
|---|
Bucks odds at SBG:
| Bucks | Odds |
|---|---|
| NBA Championship | +1125 |
| Eastern Conference Championship | +500 |
Bucks Playoff History
Previously, the Bucks won their only NBA championship in 1971, led by Hall of Famers Kareem Abdul Jabbar and Oscar Robertson. Milwaukee was a success story as an expansion team in its third season of operation. That original team, led by coach Larry Costello, was a perennial power. Also, Milwaukee made the 1974 NBA Finals. However, the Bucks lost to the Boston Celtics in sensational seven-game series and did not return until 2021.
Milwaukee was the top choice to win the Eastern Conference in 2019 and 2020. But then Bucks wilted under the offshore betting spotlight. Conversely, in 2021, the Bucks were not favored, only to end up as NBA champions. Superstar Giannis Antetokounmpo will be a Milwaukee hero forevermore. The Greek Freak is one of the most iconic athletes on Earth. Additionally, he is a marketing dream.
Milwaukee Regular Season Overview
Late on, Milwaukee got the cash in five of its final eight games. Four of their last five matchups went over the NBA odds total. The Milwaukee Bucks are 49-30 straight up, 38-41 against the spread, and 40-39 over/under the total. In sum, Milwaukee ranks 3rd for scoring offense, 2nd for offensive rebounds, 18th for points allowed, and 13th for defensive rebounding.
Milwaukee Bucks Key Players
Forward Khris Middleton often gets overshadowed by Giannis when fans and gamblers look at the Bucks. However, NBA insiders and Wise Guys have respect for Middleton. Middleton has become a 3-time NBA All-Star. Accordingly, he averaged 20.1 points, 5.4 rebounds, and 5.4 assists per game in 2021-22. In the 2021 NBA Playoffs, Middleton averaged 23.6 points per game.
Point guard Jrue Holiday is a 2-time NBA All-Defensive First Team star. Additionally, Holiday proved to be the missing piece of the Bucks championship puzzle. This season Holiday averaged 18.5 points and 6.9 assists per game.
Of course, the face of the Milwaukee Bucks is a power forward Giannis Antetokounmpo. The Greek Freak has come a long way from being the 15th overall pick in the 2013 NBA Draft. Giannis is a 6-time NBA All-Star and 2-time NBA Most Valuable Player. Additionally, he was the 2021 NBA Finals Most Valuable Player. Correlate that in 2021-22, Giannis led Milwaukee with 30.1 points, 11.6 rebounds, and 5.8 assists per game. In the 2021 NBA Playoffs, Antetokounmpo averaged 30.2 points and 12.8 rebounds per game.
Milwaukee Bucks Head Coach
Head coach Mike Budenholzer, age 52, is a 2-time NBA Coach of the Year. Most important of all, he led the Bucks to their first NBA championship in 50 years last June.