Fansided

NBA Playoffs 2017: Power ranking all 16 playoff teams

By Chris Barnewall

January 16, 2017; Oakland, CA, USA; Golden State Warriors guard Stephen Curry (30) celebrates in front of Cleveland Cavaliers forward LeBron James (23) during the second quarter at Oracle Arena. Mandatory Credit: Kyle Terada-USA TODAY Sports
January 16, 2017; Oakland, CA, USA; Golden State Warriors guard Stephen Curry (30) celebrates in front of Cleveland Cavaliers forward LeBron James (23) during the second quarter at Oracle Arena. Mandatory Credit: Kyle Terada-USA TODAY Sports /
facebooktwitterreddit
Prev
8 of 16
Next
Apr 8, 2017; Philadelphia, PA, USA; Milwaukee Bucks forward Giannis Antetokounmpo (34) waits for play to start against the Philadelphia 76ers during the second quarter at Wells Fargo Center. Mandatory Credit: Eric Hartline-USA TODAY Sports
Apr 8, 2017; Philadelphia, PA, USA; Milwaukee Bucks forward Giannis Antetokounmpo (34) waits for play to start against the Philadelphia 76ers during the second quarter at Wells Fargo Center. Mandatory Credit: Eric Hartline-USA TODAY Sports /

9. Milwaukee Bucks

The Bucks are scorching hot. They had a bad start to April, but Milwaukee used an incredible March to vault themselves from out of the playoffs all the way into the No. 6 seed. Everybody is peaking at the right time and Giannis Antetokounmpo just capped off a historically great season. It’s a shame that Jabari Parker got hurt again, because this team would be extremely dangerous if they were at full health. Khris Middleton is great. Greg Monroe is fantastic off the bench. They have a fun rookie in Malcom Brogdon. There’s a lot to like in Milwaukee.

However, the Bucks are still not quite good enough yet. They’re more just an annoying team that nobody wants to play than an actual threat to go on a run. They’re ranked above teams potentially better than them right now because they finished the regular season as hot as they did. But in a seven game series it’s hard to see them doing much. The Bucks have to take on a Raptors team that’s playing just as well and has much more talent across their roster. Perhaps if they had gotten into a matchup with the Wizards they would have had a punchers chance, but a really bad stretch midway through the season knocked the Bucks out of the playoffs for a good chunk of the season.

Still, there’s a lot to like here. Milwaukee probably won’t win a playoff series, but they’re going to give Toronto hell and make the Raptors wish they had gotten matched up with Atlanta instead. The potential of this team is off the charts.

Home/NBA