This might be the end of any hope the Bucks had for repeating. I think they can still get by the Bulls (if Portis can play and Holiday plays better), but I don't think they have much of a chance against the Celtics without Middleton.
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@MichiganPacker posted:This might be the end of any hope the Bucks had for repeating. I think they can still get by the Bulls (if Portis can play and Holiday plays better), but I don't think they have much of a chance against the Celtics without Middleton.
Yep, even with Middleton, the Celtics have looked like the slightly better, slightly hotter team. Without him, even beating the Bulls has suddenly become much more difficult than we ever could have imagined.
Tough to say. I was pessimistic at times last year with this team and the the playoffs.
Against Miami, they didn’t look good in game 1 yet Middleton hits game winner in OT and they go on to sweep Miami.
They play the Nets and looked like crap the first two game going down 0-2, then go down 3-2 and ultimately win game 7 on the road.
ATL takes game 1 in MKE, then Giannis gets hurt in game 4 but the Bucks win the next two (including game 6 in ATL) without 34.
In the Finals, they go down 0-2 and look terrible, then flip the switch and win the next 4 straight.
If Middleton is really out 3-4 weeks that makes their task much more difficult. However, given what they did last year I have to give them the benefit of the doubt.
For sake of discussion, if this series goes 7 games that’s May 1. Round 2 likely wouldn’t start until at least May 3 so in total that’s 2 full weeks away. If KM is quick to recover it’s possible he could be back in time to help but honestly it might be in their best interest to drag out this series.
Winning game 3 is HUGE and SOMEONE will have to step up that hasn't so far.
It will have to be a team effort to replace Middleton's production. I don't think any one player can do it, alone. Portis is the obvious guy, but I think Matthews and Holiday have to step up their games. Lopez, too.
Bucks won 2 games last year without Giannis, they can win without Middleton.