NBA Season Preview 2018-19: Every team's best case scenario

NBA Season Preview 2018-19: Every team’s best case scenario

By John Hugar | Sep 25, 2018

SHANGHAI, CHINA - OCTOBER 08: Stephen Curry #30 of the Golden State Warriors celebrates with Andre Iguodala #9 of the Golden State Warriors during the game between the Minnesota Timberwolves and the Golden State Warriors as part of 2017 NBA Global Games China at Mercedes-Benz Arena on October 8, 2017 in Shanghai, China. (Photo by Zhong Zhi/Getty Images) /

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(Photo by Maddie Meyer/Getty Images) /

Milwaukee Bucks

When a team has the type of star that the Bucks have in Giannis, the question of “how much time do we have to put a team around him?” quickly becomes daunting. In the Bucks case, they have to get going quickly. Giannis was brilliant again, but it couldn’t get the Bucks out of the first round, even against a Celtics team that was missing its two best players.

How do they get over the hump this year? Well, signing Brook Lopez on a very cheap contract was a nice start. He’s coming off a down year in Los Angeles, but is still a talented scorer who can also defend. Elsewhere, it honestly feels like this supporting cast should be better than it is. Eric Bledsoe is electrifying at his best, and Khris Middleton is the perfect 3-and-D wing for the modern NBA. At some point — especially in the East — a team like this should win.

So, let’s put this out there: Giannis is probably the best player in the East now, and he should be able to carry them pretty far. I’d say the ceiling for the Bucks would probably be just below the Raptors. If the talent here comes together, expect them to finally win a series, and fight hard for a spot in the Conference Finals.