How Milwaukee Bucks Stack Up Versus Eastern Conference’s Top Teams

After the Boston Celtics destroyed the Milwaukee Bucks on Thursday night, I thought it prudent to review their record against the top teams in the NBA and see how they stack up.

Playoff basketball is often about matchups. Some guys can thrive in the 82-game regular season, but struggle mightily in the 16-game season that is the playoffs. The Bucks have had their fair share of struggles along the way, but have also found ways to succeed.

Their front office focused on collecting players who can help in the 16-game season as a process. They signed Joe Ingles last summer, hoping he can jumpstart their porous halfcourt offense. And Jae Crowder was traded for at the deadline with the thought he could unlock a supreme switching unit that allows Milwaukee to match up with anyone defensively.

These players have helped intermittently throughout the regular season, but their contributions should rise against teams like the Celtics. That wasn’t the case this time around, but the playoffs will be different. At least the Bucks sure hope so.

Milwaukee still holds a two game lead over the Celtics for the top spot in the Eastern Conference, but Boston now has the tie-breaker thanks to winning the regular season series 2-1.

With about a week and a half remaining, the Bucks would play the eighth seed and one of the teams to come out of the play-in tournament. Those teams consist of the Miami Heat (40-37), Atlanta Hawks (38-38), Toronto Raptors (38-38), and the Chicago Bulls (36-40). Miami and Atlanta would matchup in the first round, with the winner getting the seventh seed and a likely matchup with Boston. Meanwhile, the loser would face the winner of the Raptors-Bulls game, with the winner of that contest taking on the Bucks.

Here are the entire Eastern Conference playoff standings heading into Friday’s games:

1. Bucks (55-22, -GB)
2. Celtics (53-24, 2 GB)
3. 76ers (50-26, 4.5 GB)
4. Cavaliers (48-29, 7 GB)
5. Knicks (44-33, 11 GB)
6. Nets (41-35,13.5 GB)
7. Heat (40-37, 15 GB)
8. Hawks (38-38, 16.5 GB)
9. Raptors (38-38, 16.5 GB)
10. Bulls (36-40, 18.5 GB)

That is a favorable playoff schedule for the Bucks, as they’d avoid going through the 76ers and Celtics. Instead, those two mammoths would have to battle it out in the second round, with the winner advancing to the Eastern Conference Finals to theoretically take on Milwaukee.

Meanwhile, the Bucks would be looking at a second-round matchup against either the Cavs or Knicks. A first-round contest would loom against either the Heat, Hawks, Raptors, or Bulls.

With all of those possibilities, who should Bucks’ fans be rooting for Milwaukee to face? Here’s a quick look at the rest of the projected Eastern Conference playoff teams and the Bucks’ record against each of them so far:

• Celtics (1-2)
• 76ers (1-2)
• Cavaliers (2-2)
• Knicks (3-0)
• Nets (3-1)
• Heat (2-2)
• Hawks (2-2)
• Raptors (3-0)
• Bulls (1-2)
• Total Record: 18-13

Beginning with potential first round matchups and working our way deeper into the postseason, Milwaukee’s most favorable opponent would be the Toronto Raptors. Milwaukee is 3-0 against them this season, with one game remaining. The Raptors are very long and can make life difficult for the Bucks on offense. However, they don’t have enough to stick with them for an entire season, and Milwaukee should make quick work of them.

Chicago is a sneaky opponent. They’ve been surging post All-Star break and are an excellent defensive team. The Bucks still have one game remaining against them as well. The Heat and the Hawks would be a worst-case scenario for the Bucks in the first round, as both teams match up well against Milwaukee. With that being said, the Bucks should not have any issues handling either team; it just wouldn’t surprise me to see it go to six games.

Moving on to the second round, Milwaukee shouldn’t be too concerned with either the Knicks or the Cavs. Both teams are talented and could upset the Bucks; however, Milwaukee has had success against them. Cleveland is very talented, but lacks a shooter or two to take down Milwaukee in the postseason. The Bucks would shrink the floor and take away anything close to the rim for their talented guards.

It won’t be easy in the Eastern Conference Finals if either the 76ers or Celtics make it that far. Both teams are supremely talented and took the season series on the Bucks this year. Getting homecourt advantage will be a massive help, but it’s likely to go the full seven games.

Anything can happen in the playoffs and the standings still need to get sorted out. Milwaukee has a lot of work to do on their end after getting embarrassed on national television once again. Health and matchups will be a major key in determining who comes out of the vaunted East.