Milwaukee Bucks SWOT Analysis At 2022-23 Quarter Pole

The Milwaukee Bucks have rattled off 14 straight victories, the longest win streak in the NBA this season, and have reached the season’s quarter pole with a 43-17 record.

They are near full strength and hope to have their entire team available for the stretch run. They currently have the second-best record in both the NBA and the Eastern Conference, sitting 0.5 games behind the Boston Celtics. Milwaukee, however, isn’t necessarily focused on catching Boston. They want to be the best version of themselves and concentrate on getting better daily.

One tool businesses can use to assess their progress is a SWOT analysis. SWOT stands for Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities, and Threats. It helps to identify weaknesses and threats that exist to an organization and how they can use their strengths and opportunities to combat them. I will use it to evaluate the Bucks’ status heading into the home stretch, including what is working for them and what they should be worried about.

Strengths

Rim Protection

Milwaukee’s defense is the biggest strength of their team, but I break it down on a more granular level. With Brook Lopez and Giannis Antetokounmpo seemingly always in or around the paint, Milwaukee has the best rim-protecting duo in the NBA. Among the 128 players who have contested at least 850 shots within five feet of the hoop this season, Lopez ranks eighth in field goal percentage allowed (59.8 percent) and Antetokounmpo ranks 22nd (61.7 percent). Jrue Holiday even makes an appearance on the list at 12th (60.6 percent).

As a team, the Bucks prioritize protecting the rim. According to Cleaning the Glass, they rank fourth in frequency of opponents shots allowed in that area and fourth in field goal percentage. It’s been a strength since Mike Budenholzer arrived.

Three-Point Defense

In the past, the Bucks sacrificed their three-point defense at the cost of preventing shots near the bucket. Not this year. It was a major philosophical change Budenholzer implemented in the offseason and it’s paying huge dividends.

After ranking in the bottom four of three-pointers allowed in Budenholzer’s first four years at the helm, they rank third this season. Even better: They are the NBA’s top-ranked defense in three-point percentage allowed. They squeeze the court on both ends and force opposing offenses to take shots in the inefficient mid-range area.

Rebounding

After forcing all of those misses, Milwaukee doesn’t give their opponents many second chances. They gobble up rebounds like their life depends on it, ranking second in defensive rebounding percentage. Heck, they’re even pressing the offensive glass and are much improved in that area as well.

Weaknesses

Turnovers

The Bucks’ offense has been a slugfest all season. That can be expected when they’ve been missing key players such as Khris Middleton, Joe Ingles, and others throughout the entire season. However, it’s worrisome how often they’ve turned the rock over.

Milwaukee currently ranks 19th in turnover percentage. And that’s a huge improvement from just a month ago. Before they went on this 14-game win streak and began protecting the rock better, they ranked 23rd.

Halfcourt Offense

Milwaukee’s halfcourt offense has been their biggest struggle. We are used to seeing this in the postseason, but not throughout the regular season. Injuries have played an obvious factor, but there’s more to it than that. After ranking in the top seven in each of the last four seasons, they rank 18th so far this season. Their three-point shooting has dipped as well, which should be another cause for concern.

Opportunities

Earn No. 1 Seed

Milwaukee was tied with the Brooklyn Nets for third place in the Eastern Conference and were 5.5 games back of the Celtics when they started their winning streak. They’ve clawed all the way back and are just 0.5 games back. They can’t win the rest of the games on their schedule, but they’ll have the opportunity to earn the no. 1 seed.

The top seed in the conference is obviously important for homecourt advantages, but there’s more to it than that. The Celtics and Bucks are alone as the top tier in the East, but the Philadelphia 76ers are probably in the second tier by themselves. If the Bucks earn the top spot, they’ll likely avoid having to go through both the Celtics and the 76ers to earn a spot in the NBA Finals.

Develop Team Chemistry

There hasn’t been a single game all season where Milwaukee has had their entire rotation available for the whole game. They’ve come agonizingly close a couple of times, but key injuries have prevented that dream from becoming a reality.

If Antetokounmpo returns to action this week (and barring another injury), Milwaukee will be fully healthy for the first time. This presents a tremendous opportunity to develop chemistry over the final 22 games of the season and hit their stride entering the postseason.

Threats

Biggest Threat: Boston Celtics

When you scour the NBA landscape, the Bucks and Celtics are in a tier of their own (sorry Denver). Both teams have proven they have what it takes to succeed in the postseason and are playing wonderful basketball. Milwaukee will likely have to go through them if they want to hoist their second Larry O’B in three years.

Other Eastern Threats: Philadelphia 76ers and Cleveland Cavaliers

The only other teams in the East I could see defeating Milwaukee are the 76ers and Cavaliers. And that’s with a caveat. Milwaukee would have to see a lot go wrong for them to make this outcome come to fruition. Even with that, Cleveland is a maybe.

Western Conference: Denver Nuggets, Phoenix Suns, Memphis Grizzlies

As for the West, the Nuggets hold the top spot. I’m discounting them based on their lack of postseason success with Nikola Jokic. We haven’t seen them show what it takes to get to the Finals. The addition of Kevin Durant to the Suns makes them a legit threat. Memphis is in the maybe category, but could still be another year away from truly contending.