Milwaukee Bucks : 5 Keys To Success In 2016-17

Jan 29, 2016; Milwaukee, WI, USA; Milwaukee Bucks head coach Jason Kidd calls a play with forward Giannis Antetokounmpo (34) in the fourth quarter during the game against the Miami Heat at BMO Harris Bradley Center. The Heat beat the Bucks 107-103. Mandatory Credit: Benny Sieu-USA TODAY Sports
Jan 29, 2016; Milwaukee, WI, USA; Milwaukee Bucks head coach Jason Kidd calls a play with forward Giannis Antetokounmpo (34) in the fourth quarter during the game against the Miami Heat at BMO Harris Bradley Center. The Heat beat the Bucks 107-103. Mandatory Credit: Benny Sieu-USA TODAY Sports
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With the lack of strength out East, these five keys could see the Milwaukee Bucks in the 2017 NBA Playoffs.

NBA
Jan 29, 2016; Milwaukee, WI, USA; Milwaukee Bucks head coach Jason Kidd calls a play with forward Giannis Antetokounmpo (34) in the fourth quarter during the game against the Miami Heat at BMO Harris Bradley Center. The Heat beat the Bucks 107-103. Mandatory Credit: Benny Sieu-USA TODAY Sports

The Milwaukee Bucks missed the playoffs by a whopping 11 games in the Eastern Conference this season and managed to rank near the bottom of the league in a number of stats such as points per game (25th), offensive rating (26th) and defensive rating (23rd).

However, much of the dismal performance can be attributed to growing pains of a young team in the midst of a rebuild. The good news is that the future started to look much brighter for a franchise that has not won a playoff series in the past 15 years.

The Bucks have three very good young players under the age of 25 who all showed significant improvement last season. Khris Middleton blossomed into the team’s leading scorer notching over 18 per night, former No. 2 overall pick Jabari Parker showed steady gains all year after coming back from his injury and 21-year-old Giannis Antetokounmpo gave the league a glimpse of his all-star potential.

With further development from their young guns and a few other key changes, the Bucks just might be as smooth as their recently renovated logo and uniforms. Here’s a look at five keys to making the rest of the NBA “fear the deer” next season.

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