Bucks Zone

Milwaukee Bucks rise to no. 5 in the latest edition of The Athletic’s Power Rankings

Despite their shortcomings on defense, the Bucks remain an elite team.

Jonas Panerio

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For all the talk about the Milwaukee Bucks' subpar defense that allows opponents to score nearly 120 points per game, the team remains on solid ground in second place, three games behind the top-ranked Boston Celtics, whom they recently walloped by 33 points.

It's no secret how porous Milwaukee's defense has been this season, a by-product of the personnel the team employs on the perimeter and the defensive scheme that Adrian Griffin insists on using despite the personnel's defensive deficiencies.

However, the Bucks' offense has been tremendous, overcoming their defensive flaws and propelling them to a 28-12 record, good for sole possession of the fifth spot in The Athletic's Power Rankings.

On pace for another 50+ win season

Experts and opposing teams have taken shots figuratively and literally at the Bucks' abysmal defense, which often resembles a turnstile in most games. However, their dominance on the offensive end, especially with Lillard and Giannis playing pick-and-roll on one side of the court, has been a sight to behold.

"Many of us (myself included) have poked holes in a lot of what the Bucks have been and looked like this season. And yet, they're on pace for 57 wins and the over. They're not on pace to clear it by much, but even approaching it with the discourse about them makes you do a bit of a double-take," Zach Harper wrote.

Incredibly dangerous squad

It's no secret that the Bucks could use more time playing together to build chemistry on both ends of the floor. The return of veteran forward Jae Crowder will help a great deal, both with his on-court play and off-court guidance of young, athletic rookies like Andre Jackson Jr. and Chris Livingston.

Overall, the Bucks have plenty of flaws, but they remain a dangerous squad, capable of outscoring even the most formidable opponents. Despite the criticism and doubts surrounding them, the Bucks have continued to prove themselves as one of the top teams in the league. And with a solid record and strong performances from Giannis, Lillard, Khris Middleton, Malik Beasley, and Brook Lopez, they are poised to make a deep playoff run this season.

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Jonas Panerio
JONAS PANERIO