They say that lightning doesn’t strike twice, but in the case of the NBA title, that’s a saying you might want to avoid, especially if you are a sports betting enthusiast.
When the Milwaukee Bucks overcame the Phoenix Suns in last season’s NBA finals in game six, it secured them their first championship in 50 years, and it’s a success that could well be repeated.
Mike Budenholzer was, of course, hugely indebted to Giannis Antetokounmpo, and if the Greek talent can put in another out-of-this-world season, then there’s no reason that the Bucks can’t upset the NBA basketball odds and overcome the overwhelming favorites the Brooklyn Nets. Backing the Nets, at (+240), almost doesn’t seem worthwhile, and if anything, the Lakers at (+400) are overly dependent on a host of newly acquired stars gelling instantly.
The Bucks, on the other hand, are another year wiser and, as a collective, have already proven themselves capable of going all the way. Milwaukee is as long as (+900) right now, and that’s hard to ignore.
A lot will depend on the fitness of Antetokounmpo, who fought back from injury to lead the Bucks past the Suns. Giannis averaged an amazing 35.2 pts per game in the NBA Finals, and that included a truly astonishing 50 point haul in game 6. It is, however, true that the two-time NBA MVP was playing through an injury.
Antetokounmpo was incredibly honest about his frame of mind and experiences during those finals games, stating in a recent interview on Greek television;
“I was hurt in Game 1. I was praying. We lost,” Giannis said. “In Game 2, I scored 40, and we lost. I was s******* my pants; I was scared after scoring 40 and losing. After that, we just wanted to defend our home. But then my teammates reacted, the team reacted, Jrue [Holiday] was all over the place. The key was how to manage my fear, my anxiety. I was talking with a sports psychiatrist every day; he helped me be myself. The free throws were a mental issue, and I want to continue like this in the next season. And I want to see if we can repeat this as a team. I want to see if we can do it again, myself, my teammates, the owners, everyone.”
The Bucks without Giannis Antetokounmpo are nothing to write home about. He’s missed 21 games over the past two seasons, the Bucks are 11-10 in those encounters, and that goes to show how crucial the player is to Budenholzer’s ambitions.
Clearly, the Bucks also have the likes of Khris Middleton and Jrue Holiday to call upon, but let’s be frank. Antetokounmpo is essential to any hopes of back-to-back NBA championship successes.
While the Brooklyn Nets and the Los Angeles Lakers have been grabbing much of the postseason headlines, the Bucks have been quietly going about their business.
Budenholzer knows he has the roster to win another title, and if he keeps his players’ feet on the ground and they go about things in a calm and calculated manner, then you can guarantee that the Milwaukee Bucks will be in the mix by the end of the postseason.