Playoff Preview- Milwaukee Bucks Vs New York Knicks

Boasting one of the best records through the regular season, the Milwaukee Bucks will play host to a genuine dark horse in the Eastern Conference, the New York Knicks. This series is shaping up as one of the most anticipated first round match-ups as it features two experienced and playoff hardened GMs with rosters good enough to take out the Conference and maybe even win it all.

The Bucks

Led by everyone’s favourite GM, Daz’s build seems to be close to complete with an expectation to go deep, if not, all the way this season. The Bucks streaked ahead of the pack early in the season but slowly ran out of momentum following a blockbuster trade to bring Paul George to town. While the results since the trade haven’t been disastrous, the Bucks have shown a few cracks in the armour, leaving GM Daz with a little bit of work to get his team firing on all cylinders in time for the post season. The key pieces are there, they have size, length, scoring and a defensive unit good enough to stop any opponent on any given night. 

The Knicks

GM Smokey has proven himself to be as his namesake, a “smokey” to go deep into playoffs. He will tell the fans to keep expectations to a minimum, but if the Knicks can get over the Bucks there will be a clear run to the Conference Finals. A little luck is all that’s required to create momentum and the Knicks will enter the post-season fairly strong and healthy after Dame finished out the regular season and Kawhi returned early in the post-season, though not 100%. Leonard will aim to return on the second away game which will give his squad a much-needed boost for the remainder of the post-season.

Storylines for the series

Nice Guy Vs Nice Guy

There is no result in this series that is not a win for the league. Both GMs are beloved by the league and are amongst the easiest to barrack for. Both franchises are ready to win-now and have the pieces to go deep into the playoffs, if not, win it all. This will not be a smack-talking affair as we would’ve expected if Yeet actually made playoffs (but he didn’t). Sportsmanship will be elite and the better man will prevail, while an exceptional man will concede. There is no bad result for this series but the worst possible result would be a sweep. Both of these guys have too much pride to be on the receiving end of a 4-0 rout and they both have too much compassion to allow the other to receive such treatment.

Knicks now or never?

This Knicks team is built for now and while they very well could have a trade lined for the post-season, the general feel is if the can’t make a deep run with Dame, Kawhi and a great supporting cast, they might have to move the window back a little to suit their younger, emerging players. It’s been a struggle this season for a number of GMs and the Knicks have really battled through adversity to get a clear run at it. They’ve earned health and a chance to be full strength, how will they fare against the best in the East?

Milwaukee chemistry

The NSL Bucks have a little of the NBA Bucks about them. They seem to have lost form as the season has gone on, which could be due to updates in the game but it also might stem from the Paul George acquisition. Will there be a role change, playbook or strategy that frees up his stars and generates post-season momentum or is the 6-4 record over their past 10 indicative of where the Bucks stand?

 

Key Matchups
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander vs Damian Lillard

SGA will be the focal point of the Bucks throughout the post-season as he has throughout the regular season. He might not draw Dame as a primary defender throughout the series but he will probably defend him. If he can slow the scoring impact of Dame and keep him to inefficient play, the Bucks will likely edge the series. Both players will probably average 30+ points for the series, efficiency will be key. 

Paul George vs Kawhi Leonard 

NBA Clippers team mates PG13 and Kawhi will face each other in a tantalising matchup. Fans will have to wait until game 2 to see the head-to-head as Leonard mirrors his NBA return, when it happens, the defensive strategies will be super interesting. Both stars are two-way players and will be relied upon as the second scoring option defending the other team’s number one option. Leonard should have the 2k edge but there’s no doubt the matchup could go either way.

 

Predictions

This series has the feel of one that could genuinely go the distance. Both teams have experience and creativity in their coaching departments and both squads are pretty heathy. Thybulle being injured is a minor concern for the Bucks as he’s been a quality defensive stopper off the bench and occasionally in the starting unit. His absence for the first round probably isn’t significant enough to alter the end result, however the Bucks are still scrambling to find their best rotations as form has been up and down over the back end of the year.

A sweep seems impossible in a seven-game series these days. Even if the top team played the bottom, there’s always a possibility at an anomaly game. Both GMs will need to hold their nerve and trust their best teams as results will vary on a night-to-night basis even with minimal changes. The Bucks will enter as favourites and should have enough weapons in the arsenal to win the series. I’d imagine it goes 6 games but anywhere between 5 and 7 is where this one will land. If New York has done their homework, there is a chance at an upset which would no doubt send shockwaves through the league and would send GM Daz right back to the drawing board. For New York, there is nothing to lose.

The Bucks will win in 6 after jumping New York in game one and holding home court advantage with a 2-0 lead. The Knicks will respond by winning one at home, but will trail 3-1. From there, a gallant fight back will happen, Knicks will push it to 6 games and will lose a close game 6. I say this prediction fully aware the series could go in the other direction.

Player of the series- Shai Gilgeous-Alexander- 34 points, 6 assists, 2 steals with 56% FG.

Good luck to both gentlemen. There is no result to this series where the league doesn’t benefit. You’re both legends of the NSL and we will expect an exciting and competitive series.