After falling behind 2-0 in their first-round series against the Indiana Pacers, the Milwaukee Bucks have plenty of work to do to try and save their season.
The Bucks have a lot riding on their return to Milwaukee, where they will play Games 3 and 4. They already trail the Pacers by two games, and while they could just as easily even the series up, a surprising stat hints that they are already done.
That is the last thing that Bucks fans want to hear, considering all that rides on this playoff run. If they can't make a deep postseason run, then it could jeopardize their future with star Giannis Antetokounmpo potentially demanding a trade this summer.
Shocking stat confirms Bucks face uphill battle to keep Giannis Antetokounmpo
Despite having the fourth-best record in the Eastern Conference this season, the Pacers are seldom talked about as a contender, even though they finished ahead of the Bucks, who won the in-season tournament and are recent NBA champions. Not just that, but they have a clear advantage when it comes to coaching.
Pacers coach Rick Carlisle is among the best in the NBA and has often led less talented teams to success in the playoffs. That's not to say that this incarnation of the Pacers is less talented than the Bucks, but the Bucks clearly have the best player among the two teams.
Even so, Carlisle is a staggering 11-0 in series where he is up two games to nothing. Obviously, each of those series' is a different animal, and anything can happen in this series, but teams up 2-0 win 92% of those series. Caveat aside, I think it's fair to say that it doesn't bode well for Milwaukee, with the Bucks already having very little room for error.
Even if they win Game 3 , they could still lose Game 4, which would put them down 3-1 and one game from elimination. Of course, losing again in the first round would be a disaster. They lost in the first round of the last two playoffs and may do so again.
After winning a championship in 2021, failing to make the second round in three of those four years would be a clear sign that they are taking a step back. That is the last thing they want to do with rumors surrounding Antetokounmpo.
If true, then the Bucks will have to storm back to win the series to keep him from demanding a trade. Unfortunately for Milwaukee, history won't be on their side, with Carlisle and the Pacers having percentages on their side.