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2024-25 Milwaukee Bucks Predictions and Odds to Win NBA Finals

by Spencer Toth - 10/10/2024

Milwaukee Bucks predictions Giannis Antetokounmpo

Giannis Antetokounmpo is entering his 12th season with the Bucks and is hungry to add to his Milwaukee legacy with another championship. The core of the Bucks roster is beginning to age, and their championship window is closing. Can they squeeze out one more championship, or will it be back to the drawing board to build a new team around Antetokounmpo?

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Milwaukee Bucks Offseason Recap

The Bucks had another significant roster overhaul in an attempt to find the right combination of players to support Giannis Antetokounmpo on the court. The biggest name leaving the Bucks roster is Malik Beasley. Beasley started all 79 games he played last season and was crucial to the Bucks success in recent seasons. His ability to clamp down defensively gave Milwaukee defensive support after losing Jrue Holiday to the Celtics last offseason. He left to play a bigger role with the Detroit Pistons, and the 3-and-D wing will be missed. His 41.3% clip from behind the arc was a team high, and his 2.8 triples made per game trailed only Damian Lillard on the Bucks. 

Milwaukee also lost some depth on their bench to make way for younger and brighter stars. Jae Crowder and Patrick Beverley are both in the twilight of their respective careers, and the Bucks front office decided the duo were no longer needed in Milwaukee. 

The biggest name the Bucks brought in over the summer was Gary Trent Jr. from the Raptors. Trent Jr. will look to replace the shooting from Beasley, but he doesn’t have the same impact on the defensive end. There is no doubt Trent Jr. will be a great shooter for the Bucks, but a backcourt of him and Lillard leaves them exposed on the perimeter. Milwaukee also brought in Taurean Prince from the LA Lakers, which is a fantastic signing. Prince is a strong defender, can knock down shots from deep, and will help the Bucks mitigate the loss of Khris Middleton when he inevitably gets injured. 

Milwaukee Bucks Season Expectations

Giannis Antetokounmpo is one of the most dominant forces in the entire NBA, so the expectation will always be championship or bust as long as he stays healthy. Antetokounmpo posted his second consecutive 30+ PPG season, shooting a career best 61.1% from the field. His ability to pick up momentum from the backcourt makes fouling the Greek superstar the only option aside from giving up an easy bucket. Antetokounmpo got injured right before the playoffs last year after playing 73 regular season games, the most since 2018. 

It’s no secret what Antetokounmpo will do on the court, and it’s up to the rest of the Bucks to deliver in the clutch. Damian Lillard looked a shadow of his former self last season, and questions are arising if he is still the best option at point guard. His incredible offensive output has made up for his lackluster defensive effort in the past, but he appears to be fading into retirement. Trent Jr. will help relieve some of the pressure on Lillard to rain down three’s, but the Bucks still need the 8-time NBA All Star to improve. 

On the inside, Brook Lopez has had a resurgent career, and is a defensive mastermind. Lopez’s positioning is second to none, and it allows him to clog up the interior with Antetokounmpo. If Lopez can continue to remain effective at 36 years old, the Bucks have a fantastic chance to make a deep run. Khris Middleton is still on the Bucks, and is expected to make an impact this season. However, injuries have limited him to just 88 games in the last two seasons combined, and it’s hard to rest title aspirations on someone as brittle as Middleton. 

Milwaukee Bucks Schedule Breakdown

The schedule for the Bucks means more than other NBA teams, as they are the oldest team in the league. The Bucks are an average of 31.7 years old, and didn’t get any younger in the offseason. The NBA’s new rest policy will force Milwaukee to play their stars in back-to-back situations, and they have the most in the league with 16 this year. 

Milwaukee Bucks Odds

The Bucks have the 8th lowest title odds this season at +1200, which are the longest odds Milwaukee has had with Antetokounmpo in years. They are in a surging Eastern Conference led by revitalized Knicks and 76ers teams and have the title favorite Celtics in there, too. Their regular season win total is 50.5 wins, a total they have eclipsed in four of the six seasons since Antetokounmpo’s first MVP award. They have finished no lower than the 3rd seed in that span, but early exits from the playoffs have marred their dominant regular season runs. 

In the NBA Cup, the Bucks are with the Heat, Pacers, Pistons, and Raptors in East Group B, and have +110 odds to come out on top. This feels a little short considering the lack of ruthlessness the Bucks have shown in must win situations. 

2024-25 Milwaukee Bucks Season Predictions and Best Bets

Milwaukee is -2000 to make the playoffs, so the big question is what seed they will have, and how deep they can go. Antetokounmpo and Lopez do a fantastic job at clogging up the interior, but I struggle to see how the Bucks will limit three point shooting this season. Trent Jr. and Lillard are both bottom of the barrel defenders, and the Bucks don’t really have any other options coming off the bench. Head coach Doc Rivers is notorious for marching out defensive units, but even he will struggle to get his guards to clamp down. 

Due to the Milwaukee Bucks age, I expect them to finish with a 47-35 record, slightly lower than their total and recent season records. Their perimeter defense is abysmal, but they will succeed in pounding the rock down the throats of their opponents. Unfortunately, in the modern day NBA, teams will live and die by the triple, and they will live more often than not against Milwaukee. The +1200 odds on the Bucks to win the championship hold some solid value, as a hot start for the Bucks could remind the league they are not to be forgotten. Antetokounmpo will be as hungry as ever to add another championship ring to his fingers, but unless they sign an elite wing defender during the season, they will fall short once again. 

Pick: Milwaukee Bucks Under 50.5 Wins 

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