Milwaukee Bucks looking to clean up unfinished business

Storyline 3: Can Giannis conquer Philadelphia’s massive front line?

The final storyline he involves whether or not Giannis Antetokounmpo, the most dominant interior scorer since Shaquille O’Neal was in his prime, can conquer the massive front line of the Philadelphia 76ers. In essence this is the same as asking “can the Milwaukee Bucks make the NBA Finals?”

In an Eastern Conference without numerous contenders, the Bucks and 76ers look to be on a collision course in the Eastern Conference Finals. Last season that is where the Bucks’ season ended, with a collection of huge defenders on the Toronto Raptors joined together to force Antetokounmpo into inefficient shots or to pass the ball.

The 76ers have the personnel to enact this very same strategy, bringing in Al Horford to play alongside Joel Embiid. Either player brings different strengths to the table in guarding Antetokounmpo and the rest of a massive starting lineup for the 76ers (and 48 solid minutes of either Horford or Embiid on the court) gives them no weak spot for Antetokounmpo to attack.

Adding a 3-point shot is the simplest way to punish such a strategy and Antetokounmpo has been clear that has been a goal of his in training. Even so he needs to develop ways to get the ball into the basket from inside, whether that is getting stronger or more clever with his footwork; tightening his handle could help as well.

Head coach Mike Budenholzer can help by placing shooting lineups on the floor and by scheming up ways to get his star the ball with space.

If Antetokounmpo can learn from a year ago and come back better than ever, no team will have a chance at stopping him. If any team is going to it is the 76ers, and whether or not the Bucks can figure that defense out will almost certainly determine whether or not they go to the NBA Finals.