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Milwaukee Bucks fans should not worry about their early-season struggles

By Thomas J. Brown

MIAMI, FLORIDA - OCTOBER 21: Jrue Holiday #21, Khris Middleton #22 and Giannis Antetokounmpo #34 of the Milwaukee Bucks react during the second half against the Miami Heat at FTX Arena on October 21, 2021 in Miami, Florida. 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 Michael Reaves/Getty Images)
MIAMI, FLORIDA - OCTOBER 21: Jrue Holiday #21, Khris Middleton #22 and Giannis Antetokounmpo #34 of the Milwaukee Bucks react during the second half against the Miami Heat at FTX Arena on October 21, 2021 in Miami, Florida. 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 Michael Reaves/Getty Images) /
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Milwaukee Bucks
U.S. President Joe Biden (center) stands with Milwaukee Bucks players Jrue Holiday (left) and Donte DiVincenzo (right) during a ceremony to honor the team for its NBA Championship (Mandatory Credit: Scott Taetsch-USA TODAY Sports) /

Why Milwaukee Bucks fans should not worry: Championship fatigue

Before getting too bent out of shape about the Milwaukee Bucks’ early-season struggles, fans should remember that the team’s core group has had multiple years with great regular-season records and deep playoff runs.

Against the Toronto Raptors in 2019, they blew a lead in game four of the Eastern Conference Finals that would have seen them take a three games to one lead in that series. If not for that fourth-quarter collapse, the team may have reached the Finals in 2019 instead of having to wait until 2021. Last season was the third consecutive season the team started with championship aspirations. While they were finally able to accomplish their goal, and doing so had to be exhausting.

We’ve seen this movie before. After winning the NBA championship in 1989, the Detroit Pistons began the 1990 season by losing three out of their first six games. The most embarrassing of those losses came against the Miami Heat. This was the Heat’s second year in existence; their roster was comprised of inexperienced players and over-the-hill veterans who’d been banished to the expansion draft.

To say this was a humbling loss for the defending champions would be an understatement. However, the “Bad Boys” would regroup, ending the regular season with a record of 59 wins and 23 losses. More importantly, they would go on to repeat as NBA champions.

It’s an old cliché, but the NBA season is a marathon, not a sprint. How many times have we witnessed teams get off to an incredible start, only to slow down by the All-Star break and ultimately miss out on first place by the end of the season?

Milwaukee’s core group has been together for years; they understand the way this works. Their mindset is to get everyone healthy and have homecourt advantage in the first round. They’re just catching their breath right now, the final lap of the race is still a ways away.

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