5 reasons the Milwaukee Bucks can win the NBA Championship

OAKLAND, CA - NOVEMBER 8: Giannis Antetokounmpo #34 and Head Coach Mike Budenholzer talk during the game against the Golden State Warriors on November 8, 2018 at ORACLE Arena in Oakland, California. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2018 NBAE (Photo by Noah Graham/NBAE via Getty Images)
OAKLAND, CA - NOVEMBER 8: Giannis Antetokounmpo #34 and Head Coach Mike Budenholzer talk during the game against the Golden State Warriors on November 8, 2018 at ORACLE Arena in Oakland, California. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2018 NBAE (Photo by Noah Graham/NBAE via Getty Images) /
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MILWAUKEE, WISCONSIN – MARCH 26: James Harden #13 of the Houston Rockets is defended by Eric Bledsoe #6 of the Milwaukee Bucks during a game at Fiserv Forum on March 26, 2019 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Stacy Revere/Getty Images)
MILWAUKEE, WISCONSIN – MARCH 26: James Harden #13 of the Houston Rockets is defended by Eric Bledsoe #6 of the Milwaukee Bucks during a game at Fiserv Forum on March 26, 2019 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Stacy Revere/Getty Images) /

2. Defense

While the Bucks get a lot of attention for their offensive firepower, their defense has been even more dominating relative to the rest of the league than their offense has. Not only do they allow the fewest points per 100 possessions of any team in the league, but they are also allowing the lowest effective field goal percentage of any team, while also gobbling up seemingly every rebound opportunity on that end as well as they are currently second in the league in defensive rebound percentage. They also just don’t foul very often, allowing fewer free throws per field goal attempt than any other NBA team.

And the Bucks are doing it as a unit rather than by relying on an individually spectacular rim protector or lockdown defender. Instead, they utilize their athleticism and length to confuse and frustrate opposing offenses, closing out on shot attempts and popping up in passing lanes seemingly as quickly as they appear. Considering how good the Bucks’ offense is, it’s going to be difficult for any team to outscore them anyway, but in light of their phenomenal defense, even trying to do so may be a fool’s errand.