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Milwaukee Bucks: Breaking Down Their Remaining Schedule

By Josh Cornelissen

Mar 6, 2017; Philadelphia, PA, USA; Milwaukee Bucks forward Giannis Antetokounmpo (34) and guard Matthew Dellavedova (8) and guard Khris Middleton (22) and forward Mirza Teletovic (35) in a game against the Philadelphia 76ers at Wells Fargo Center. The Milwaukee Bucks won 112-98. Mandatory Credit: Bill Streicher-USA TODAY Sports
Mar 6, 2017; Philadelphia, PA, USA; Milwaukee Bucks forward Giannis Antetokounmpo (34) and guard Matthew Dellavedova (8) and guard Khris Middleton (22) and forward Mirza Teletovic (35) in a game against the Philadelphia 76ers at Wells Fargo Center. The Milwaukee Bucks won 112-98. Mandatory Credit: Bill Streicher-USA TODAY Sports /
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Jan 28, 2017; Milwaukee, WI, USA; Milwaukee Bucks guard Tony Snell (21) gets pressure from Boston Celtics guard Isaiah Thomas (4) in the first quarter at BMO Harris Bradley Center. Mandatory Credit: Benny Sieu-USA TODAY Sports
Jan 28, 2017; Milwaukee, WI, USA; Milwaukee Bucks guard Tony Snell (21) gets pressure from Boston Celtics guard Isaiah Thomas (4) in the first quarter at BMO Harris Bradley Center. Mandatory Credit: Benny Sieu-USA TODAY Sports /

The NBA regular season has just four weeks remaining, meaning Milwaukee Bucks have four weeks to hold onto their playoff berth. How does the remaining schedule look for their playoff chances?

The Milwaukee Bucks are one of the hottest teams in the NBA, winning six straight games before their loss Monday to Memphis and 10 of their last 14 to leap back into the playoff picture.

Currently eighth in the Eastern Conference, the Bucks are in the driver’s seat to return to the postseason.

The problem is that their primary competition for the playoff berth is also on fire, as the Miami Heat have been on an absolute tear since the middle of January. Their four-point loss at Indiana Sunday was just their fourth in their last 25 games.

Milwaukee will also be jostling with a Charlotte team reinvigorated by a few recent wins and the return of Cody Zeller from injury. The Chicago Bulls have fallen out of the top eight, but their final six games are all against bottom-eight teams.

Related Story: Milwaukee Bucks--25 Best Players

The Detroit Pistons are riding an up-and-down season and currently have a 1.5-game lead on the field for the seventh spot.

The sheer number of teams with a realistic shot at the postseason leads to a number of scenarios where Milwaukee misses out.

Despite their strong play recently, FiveThirtyEight’s projections only give Milwaukee a 34 percent chance of making the postseason, despite currently holding onto the eighth and final playoff spot.

At this point in the season, schedule matters every bit as much as level of play. Close with a gauntlet of winning teams and a respectable 4-3 record could mean missing out. Line up a row of pushovers and mediocre play could net the wins needed.

The NBA regular season ends on April 12, meaning the Bucks and the remainder of the league have less than 30 days to make their moves. With 16 games remaining on their schedule, how do things lay out for Milwaukee? Is their path to the playoffs paved with gold or fraught with peril?

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