Milwaukee Bucks: 3 takeaways from heart-breaking Game 6 vs. Raptors

TORONTO, CANADA - MAY 25: Giannis Antetokounmpo #34 of the Milwaukee Bucks looks on during a game against the Toronto Raptors during Game Six of the Eastern Conference Finals on May 25, 2019 at Scotiabank Arena in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2019 NBAE (Photo by Jesse D. Garrabrant/NBAE via Getty Images) /

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(Photo by Ron Turenne/NBAE via Getty Images) /

1. These Bucks will be back

With defeat still lingering on Milwaukee’s breath, it’s difficult to take a step back and look at what was ultimately an amazing season for this Bucks team. Prior to the season, most had warmed to the idea of this team gaining possibly gaining home-court advantage in the first round of the playoffs.

Nobody could’ve imagined what would follow over the course of 82-games: The best record in the league with one of the five-best offenses and defenses. Khris Middleton made his first All-Star Game. Eric Bledsoe was named to the First-Team All-Defense Squad. Giannis Antetokounmpo has set himself up to take home MVP honors as well.

Having inherited a squad that won just 44-games the year prior, head coach Mike Budenholzer injected a modernized approach to the game that led to their best finish in nearly 40 years. With 60 wins on the season, he’s got as good a shot as any to win Coach of the Year for the second time in his career.

Milwaukee’s got a busy offseason ahead of them that will first and foremost require the re-signing of a number of key players including starters Khris Middleton and Brook Lopez. Both vastly outplayed their contract and as unrestricted free agents will certainly be looking for more lucrative long-term deals. Given their impact on the season, the front office would be silly not to run this team back with a few tweaks in the process.

Next. Top 100 moments of the 2018-19 NBA season. dark

Having gotten so close to the NBA Finals, the pain of losing — especially to a lower seed — isn’t something that will go away soon. However, this season was ultimately a massive step in the right direction, one that could serve as motivation for a team with the chance to dominate the Eastern Conference in dynastic fashion in the coming years.

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