Report ranks the Milwaukee Bucks’ starting five as the league’s fourth-best

The Bucks' starting five is as formidable as any in the NBA.

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Despite the disjointed start, one cannot discount the star power the Milwaukee Bucks' starting five possesses. It is for this reason Bleacher Report has ranked Milwaukee's starting quintet as the fourth-best in the entire NBA.

Giannis is still at the top of his powers

According to Zach Buckley, the bulk of the reason why the Bucks are ranked this high is because of the presence of two-time MVP Giannis Antetokounmpo, who is averaging 30.2 points, 10.2 rebounds, and 4.6 assists per game this season.

"There is some benefit of the doubt driving this ranking, but it's entirely deserved until proved otherwise. Antetokounmpo is a two-time MVP who remains firmly entrenched in the best-player-on-the-planet debate," Buckley wrote.

Lest anyone forgets, the Bucks also have seven-time All-Star Damian Lillard, who's slowly getting accustomed to playing with Giannis, as well as the ageless Brook Lopez, who remains one of the NBA's premier rim-protecting and deep-shooting bigs.

"Lillard is a seven-time All-Star coming off perhaps the most productive campaign of his career. Lopez is a premier paint protector with deep shooting range," Buckley added.

Big night for Brook.

🎰: @paysbig pic.twitter.com/dhq4K9aITJ

— Milwaukee Bucks (@Bucks) November 23, 2023

Questions about Beasley and Middleton

Malik Beasley has played solid basketball as the Bucks' starting two-guard, averaging 11.1 points and shooting a sizzling 46 percent from beyond the arc. However, it remains to be seen if he can sustain that kind of perimeter precision. The bigger question, though, involves All-Star wingman Khris Middleton, who so far has been limited to playing a shade under 20 minutes per game as he recovers from offseason knee surgery.

"Better things are almost assuredly ahead, even if (when really) Beasley's 46.9 percent splash rate inevitably cools. Lillard won't shoot worse than 40 percent from the field and under 33 percent from distance like he is now, and his chemistry with Antetokounmpo will only improve. And Middleton, presumably, should up his floor time and shooting efficiency over the course of this campaign," Buckley shared.

Game ball goes to the bucket-getting big guard! pic.twitter.com/QUSbzlmR8i

— Milwaukee Bucks (@Bucks) November 21, 2023

Milwaukee Bucks fall to no. 7 in The Athletic’s Power Rankings