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Milwaukee Bucks: Five X-Factors for the team to succeed in NBA’s Orlando restart

By Dylan Carter

MILWAUKEE, WI - DECEMBER 09: Giannis Antetokounmpo #34 of the Milwaukee Bucks celebrates a dunk with Eric Bledsoe #6 during the second half of a game against the Utah Jazz at the Bradley Center on December 9, 2017 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. 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. (Photo by Stacy Revere/Getty Images)
MILWAUKEE, WI - DECEMBER 09: Giannis Antetokounmpo #34 of the Milwaukee Bucks celebrates a dunk with Eric Bledsoe #6 during the second half of a game against the Utah Jazz at the Bradley Center on December 9, 2017 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. 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. (Photo by Stacy Revere/Getty Images) /
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Milwaukee Bucks
Milwaukee Bucks (Photo by Patrick Smith/Getty Images) /

X-Factor No. 1: Can Coach Bud shake his rocky playoff past?

Since his first playoff series as a head coach, there’ve been concerns about Mike Budenholzer’s ability to craft dynamic strategies that hold up in the playoffs. Through 54 career playoff games, Bud’s record is dead-even at .500. Before last year’s run, he was just 17-22 in the postseason with more series lost than won as the go-to leader on the sidelines.

Those Atlanta Hawks teams that he led weren’t exactly the gold-standard of playoff rosters with the exception of their 60-win group, but context won’t shed the haze looming over Bud’s past. He needs to prove that regardless of the circumstances, he can devise strategies to combat the best of the best when backed against a wall. Defeating a rundown Detroit Pistons team in the first round last year wasn’t anything to marvel at and the Boston Celtics barely showed up in the Conference Semi-Finals.

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I have little doubt that Budenholzer and the Bucks are going to crush their first-round matchup, whether it be Brooklyn or Orlando. What intrigues me most is that Conference Semi-Final matchup that lays ahead.

The Eastern Conference is much more dangerous than it was even a year ago. Though Kawhi departed for the West Coast, Toronto is still a powerhouse with insurmountable depth and expert leadership. Boston is a much better team this year than it was last year, Philly remains dangerous, Indiana is feisty and the Heat gave Milwaukee trouble in their matchups during the regular season.

Nothing is set in stone this year. Budenholzer will get Coach of the Year votes, but he has a star player mulling his future with the organization. No matter what accolades go his way, time is of the essence. If the Bucks don’t reach the Finals inside the bubble, Budenholzer is going to vulnerable to quite a bit of scrutiny during the offseason.

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