4 legacies on the line ahead of the 2024 NBA playoffs

2) Giannis Antetokounmpo

Blowing a double-digit lead to a Lebron-less Lakers team is unacceptable. Sure, Austin Reaves went off, but Anthony Davis did so as well. That doesn't bode well for Giannis Antetokounmpo. Keep in mind, the Bucks made some big moves this offseason, notably acquiring Damian Lillard from the Portland Trail Blazers.

Following a triumphant championship run in 2021, the pressure is on Giannis to once again lead the Bucks to glory. There are other factors to take into consideration. The bitter taste of past postseason failures, including heartbreaking losses and early playoff exits, serves as a constant reminder.

Since that title run, the Bucks have failed to make it to the Eastern conference finals. Though their title run was just a few years ago, fans in the mean streets won't accept anything less than a title, and adding Dame Time only heights the urgency.

Amidst the playoff fervor, there's also a playful jab at pundits like Stephen A. Smith, whose infamous comments about Milwaukee being a "cold" destination in June still linger. Wouldn't it be great to force Smith to not go to Los Angeles or Miami and force him to travel to a "cold" destination just so he can pout and whine on national television some more? For Giannis, the opportunity to win again in the "cold" confines of Milwaukee would be the ultimate troll.