Milwaukee Bucks starting lineup: Locks, fringe, potential break-ins

Sep 6, 2020; Lake Buena Vista, Florida, USA; Milwaukee Bucks center Brook Lopez (right) is congratulated by guard Donte DiVincenzo (0) after making a three point basket against the Miami Heat during the second half of game four of the second round of the 2020 NBA Playoffs at ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex. Mandatory Credit: Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports
Sep 6, 2020; Lake Buena Vista, Florida, USA; Milwaukee Bucks center Brook Lopez (right) is congratulated by guard Donte DiVincenzo (0) after making a three point basket against the Miami Heat during the second half of game four of the second round of the 2020 NBA Playoffs at ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex. Mandatory Credit: Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports
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(Photo by Jonathan Bachman/Getty Images)
(Photo by Jonathan Bachman/Getty Images)

Milwaukee Bucks Starting Lineup: Locks

Unless something drastic occurs, the starting front court for the Milwaukee Bucks will not be altered this season based off the previous two seasons. In addition, the newly acquired star that is highly coveted by the Bucks’ organization will make his way into the lineup.

Jrue Holiday

The Bucks traded both their starting point guard (Eric Bledsoe) and their backup point guard (George Hill) from last season along with many future draft picks for Jrue Holiday, so it’s safe to say that the two-way phenom will be the most talented guard that Milwaukee has heading into this season. Holiday’s presence will be a key indicator of how much success the Bucks find this season.

Khris Middleton

Coming off his second consecutive All-Star season, Khris Middleton will look to continue the grind with the Milwaukee Bucks as one of the team’s best players. It seems that Middleton has become more and more efficient each year, and his rise to stardom has certainly been inspiring to watch. As a veteran within this organization, he’ll take on more of a leadership role for the Bucks moving forward. It’s most likely that Khris will start at the small forward position again, and it’s important that he continues his hot shooting streaks and doesn’t lose his consistent rhythm.

Giannis Antetokounmpo

The back-to-back MVP of the league, Giannis Antetokounmpo, is destined for another dominant season. Giannis will start at power forward again, but we will definitely see Budenholzer utilize him at various positions throughout games, including minutes at center. The question still lingers of whether or not he’ll sign a contract extension with the Bucks this offseason, but the full expectation is that Giannis will be a Buck throughout the entire 2020-21 NBA season.

Brook Lopez

As of now, Brook Lopez will be the only true center on the Milwaukee Bucks this season. Many are capable of playing minutes at center, including Giannis, but Brook seems to be irreplaceable at the starting center position. Brook, also known as “Splash Mountain,” has become an essential part of how the Bucks operate within their schemes on both ends of the floor. His impact of stretching the floor offensively while blocking shots and cleansing the paint defensively are major reasons why Milwaukee has been so successful over the last two seasons.