Milwaukee Bucks: Top 5 games from the 2018-19 schedule
5. March 1 at Los Angeles Lakers
For the past decade, LeBron James has ruled the Eastern Conference. For eight straight seasons he has represented the Conference in the NBA Finals, accomplishing a feet no one since Bill Russell has accomplished. But after taking his talents to Hollywood, James’ reign on the East has come to a close — at least for the next few seasons.
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That means a new player has the opportunity to step up and fill the vacuum, and the top candidate in the conference is Giannis Antetokounmpo. The 23-year-old is still growing in his powers and is already an MVP candidate. While other players — Kawhi Leonard, Joel Embiid, Kyrie Irving — may make their cases, the title of “best player in the East” could very likely go to Antetokounmpo next season.
That would make his first showdown with LeBron James in a Lakers uniform something special to watch. Their games over the past few seasons with James on the Cavaliers have been exciting to watch, with the Bucks playing their divisional rivals close and occasionally winning despite Cleveland being a better team overall.
When the Bucks travel to Staples Center on the first day of March it could be LeBron passing the torch, the moment when it becomes symbolically clear who is now the best in the East. If that’s too sappy of a storyline, then it should also figure to be an exciting game featuring two of the league’s best.