The season is right around the corner and the Milwaukee Bucks have opened with +500 odds for the 2020-21 NBA Championship. The experts here at SportsTips have taken the time to review every single NBA team and offer up their opinion on how each team is expected to perform in the 2020-21 season, meaning you can place your best NBA bets with confidence.
So, without further ado, have a read on below at all our NBA betting stats and information on the Milwaukee Bucks:
Milwaukee Bucks’ 2019-20 Season Review
The Milwaukee Bucks were the clear best team during the regular season, winning 53 of their 65 games before the COVID-19 suspension. Things flipped after the break with the team, including playoffs, only winning eight of their 18 games after the COVID-19 suspension.
Giannis Antetokounmpo won his second straight MVP award by averaging 29.5 points, 13.6 rebounds, 5.6 assists, 1 steal and 1 block per contest. There wasn’t any doubt that he was the MVP of the league given his statistical output, but once again he failed and his support cast failed in the postseason.
Khris Middleton was the clear second option and earned his second All Star Game appearance. Eric Bledsoe, Brook Lopez and Wesley Matthews rounded out the other starters, but all three had down years and failed to come through when it mattered most.
After being the best team all season, the Bucks dropped one game to the Magic before losing to the Miami Heat in five games in just the second round.
That is two seasons in a row of finishing with the best record in the league and failing to make it to the NBA Finals.
The Milwaukee Bucks finished with regular season ranked just ninth in offensive rating but were so successful through having the best defensive rating in the league. This allowed them to restrict opposition teams’ scoring and their record in totals markets being 34-37-2, 25th in the league.
Despite having the best record in the league, Milwaukee finished with just sixth best against the spread, with a 39-34 record. The Bucks actually finished with a negative record against the spread on the road, finishing 18-20.
Milwaukee Bucks’ Offseason Changes
With no picks in the first round, the Milwaukee Bucks selected power forward Jordan Nwora, with pick 45 and shooting guard Sam Merrill with pick 60. Given that Milwaukee have lost Eric Bledsoe, George Hill, Robin Lopez and Wesley Matthews, both Nwora and Merrill are a good chance of picking up minutes in their rookie seasons.
“I have a chance to become much better playing around these guys.” @JordanNwora pic.twitter.com/94klNxu5IY
— Milwaukee Bucks (@Bucks) December 12, 2020
Players In: Jaylen Adams, D.J. Augustin, Torrey Craig, Mamadi Diakite, Bryn Forbes, Treveon Graham, Jrue Holiday, Sam Merrill, Jordan Nwora, Justin Patton, Bobby Portis, Nik Stauskas
Players Out: Eric Bledsoe, Sterling Brown, George Hill, Ersan Ilyasova, Kyle Korver, Robin Lopez, Frank Mason III, Wesley Matthews, Cameron Reynolds, Marvin Williams
Milwaukee Bucks’ 2020-21 Season Preview
Despite boasting the best record in the NBA in each of the last two seasons, the Milwaukee Bucks have disappointed in both of their last two playoff runs, forcing the question of whether they are just a dominant regular season team, or a team capable of winning a championship (currently at +500).
This offseason, in a bid to keep back to back MVP and 2021 free agent Giannis Antetokounmpo in Milwaukee, the Bucks hedged their future to win now, giving up Eric Bledsoe, George Hill and five first-round picks (three picks, two swaps) to acquire point guard Jrue Holiday.
Holiday will be a significant upgrade from Eric Bledsoe as a reliable third option on offense behind Antetokounmpo and Khris Middleton, while also being an elite defender.
Along with Holiday the additions of free agents Torrey Craig and Bryn Forbes were solid moves to strengthen their roster depth, although have not made the team significantly better.
Any team with Giannis Antetokounmpo is capable of winning in the regular season, however as has been evident in their past two playoff campaigns, the Bucks haven’t been a team capable of winning an NBA championship, or even getting to the NBA Finals.
Although the addition of Holiday will keep Giannis happy, it is not the move that will get Milwaukee over the hump and into the NBA Finals, especially considering what they had to give up.
There is no doubt that Milwaukee are one of the best teams in the league, however whether the Bucks have improved enough to take the next step still remains to be seen.
Will the Milwaukee Bucks Make the Playoffs?
The Bucks are a certainty to make their fifth consecutive trip to the NBA playoffs in 2021. Having won a league high 60 games in 2018-19 and a league high 56 games (shortened season) in 2019-20, there is no doubt that Milwaukee will once again be amongst the top of the Eastern Conference.
However, having underperformed in their past two playoff appearances, anything less than a deep run in the playoffs will be considered a failure for the Bucks in 2021. Milwaukee currently have the shortest odds in the East to make the playoffs at -10000 and will likely be a 1-2 seed in the Eastern Conference once again.
Milwaukee Bucks’ Key Games
December 23: @ Boston Celtics: Season tipoff against one of the best teams in the East
December 25: vs Golden State Warriors: Christmas Day matchup
December 29: @ Miami Heat: Eastern Conference Semi Finals Rematch / Giannis Antetokounmpo’s rumoured preferred trade venue
January 18: @ Brooklyn Nets: Potential Eastern Conference Finals preview
January 21: vs Los Angeles Lakers: Top two players in the 2020 MVP voting face off. Giannis vs LeBron
January 29: @ New Orleans Pelicans: Jrue Holiday, Eric Bledsoe and George Hill face up against their former teams
February 3: vs Indiana Pacers: Matchup between the two top teams in 2019-20 Central Division
Milwaukee Bucks’ Betting Summary
With +500 odds, the Milwaukee Bucks are the second favourite to win the 2021 NBA championship, trailing only the Los Angeles Lakers (+250).
Given that the Bucks have been disappointing in their past two postseason campaigns, we don’t like Milwaukee to win the title in 2021 as their roster depth took a significant hit this offseason, while only improving marginally in terms of talent by upgrading Eric Bledsoe to Jrue Holiday.
At +190 to win the East, the same question needs to be answered, have the Bucks improved their roster enough to become a genuine title contender? Given the improving strength of the Eastern Conference, Milwaukee don’t present enough value at +190 for a team that hasn’t added another superstar.
In terms of regular season performance, the Bucks have been unrivaled over the past two years, boasting league high win-loss records in each of the two seasons.
However, with a regular season line of 49.0 wins in the 72 game shortened season, we like the Bucks to go Under 49.0 win at -110, as the losses of Eric Bledsoe, George Hill, Robin Lopez and Wesley Matthews will prove costly in tight games.
As far as betting on the Bucks to succeed goes, Milwaukee are the -2500 favourite to win the Central division and -10000 to make the playoffs, both great markets to put into a parlay.
After becoming just the third player in NBA history to win the MVP and Defensive Player of the Year in the same season, Giannis Antetokounmpo is the +350 favourite to win his third MVP, and the +300 second favourite to win a second consecutive Defensive Player of the Year award.
Voter fatigue may cost Antetokounmpo in pursuit of another MVP, however if the Bucks once again post a league leading record, the Greek Freak will be hard to look past for a third consecutive MVP award and second consecutive DPOY award.
*Odds correct at time of publication, courtesy of PointsBet.
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