NBA Eastern Conf: Bucks too fast

By Guillaume Mahot

Three months and a half before the beginning of the 2020 NBA playoffs (April 18), the battle in the homogenous Eastern Conference is raging. And if the Atlanta Hawks of Trae Young can have serious reasons to consider tanking (7 victories and 27 defeats for now), all the other teams can legitimately think of making it in the playoffs race. Even the Knicks, yeah (who could have believed it one month ago?)…

Right now, the Milwaukee Bucks, with a victory rate that brushes against perfection (86%), are leading the debates. Only defeated five times since late October and the official start of the season, the teammates of the Greek Freak Giannis Antetokounmpo won shortly 106-104 against Minnesota two nights ago. The MVP from Nigerian origin scored 32 points and took 17 rebounds for a franchise that can rely on Eric Bledsoe’ return from injury. Counting eight more victories than the second one, Milwaukee even gets the possibility to make a few mistakes without any aftermath.

This is actually a wealth the other contenders do not have. The bunch of teams that follows behind the Bucks is trying to get the best ranking to maximize their chances in April. Amongst those teams, you have, in that order, the Boston Celtics, the Miami Heat, the Toronto Raptors of Cameroonian MIP Pascal Siakam, the Philadelphia Sixers of Cameroonian center Joel Embiid and the Indiana Pacers. Everything can move fast between the second one (74%) and the sixth one (62%).

Basically, the remaining teams will spend the season attempting to get a ticket for the playoffs, no matter which one. It should be without the Hawks, as said previously, but the Knicks and the Cavs can try to fulfill that dream. The Hornets of Congolese center Bismack Biyombo and the Wizards of French Beninese center Ian Mahinmi, who reached a career high lately (25 points against the Heat), as well.

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