5 reasons the Milwaukee Bucks are legitimate title contenders

1. Bucks have an MVP candidate in Giannis Antetokounmpo

In addition to having impressive offensive and defensive numbers across the board, along with a head coach who can help guide a team to new heights, the one remaining element as far as championship rosters go is the presence of an MVP-caliber kind of player.

Enter the “Greek Freak.”

Last season, Antetokounmpo posted averages of 26.9 points, 10.0 rebounds and 4.8 assists per contest on 52 percent shooting from the field. The scoring and rebounding numbers were both career highs.

There’s no way he would be able to put up those kind of numbers again, right? Think again.

This season, Giannis is averaging 26.4 points, 12.5 rebounds and 6.0 assists per contest on a super-efficient 58 percent shooting from the floor. As you’ve probably guessed, he leads the Bucks in each of these categories.

Aside from the production, the guy is a force to be reckoned with, and when he gets out on the break, it is better to just get out of the way.

No, the Greek Freak isn’t much of a threat from 3-point range as he’s shooting just 17 percent from downtown — the second lowest mark of his career. Aside from that, though, the guy does a bit of everything. Opposing teams’ defensive schemes are always geared toward him, and rightfully so.

With all these factors working in their favor, the Bucks certainly deserve to be in the conversation of the teams that have a chance of winning the title this year.

Barring any unforeseen circumstances, it wouldn’t be much of a surprise if this team winds up representing the East in the 2019 NBA Finals.