Milwaukee Bucks 2020 Restart Preview - NBA Odds, Picks & Betting Predictions

When the 2019-20 NBA regular season was suspended, the Milwaukee Bucks held the NBA's best record at 53-12 and we're leading the Eastern Conference by 6 ½  games over the second place Toronto Raptors. Milwaukee through 65 games was an impressive 28-3 at home and an equally impressive 25-9 on the road. The Bucks led the Central Division by 14 games over the second-place Indiana Pacers and were closing in on clinching the division title with just 17 games remaining on the regular season schedule.

Forward Giannis Antetokounmpo was leading the Bucks in scoring with an average of 29.6 points per game, in rebounding with an average of 13.7 points per game and in assists with an average of 5.8 per game through 65 games of the 82-game regular season. Khris Middleton is the second leading scorer with an average 21.1 points per game and was also second in both assists and rebounds with averages of 5.5 and 6.2 per game respectively.

The Milwaukee Bucks have the second oldest roster in the NBA behind just the Houston Rockets and that mix of veteran experience and young, talented stars is what has led the Bucks to such an impressive record through 65 games. Milwaukee's foundation is built around superstar Giannis Antetokounmpo, forward Khris Middleton, guard Eric Bledsoe and center Brook Lopez. Antetokounmpo has been a dominating force for the Bucks at both ends of the court and Milwaukee will go as far as the forward will take them following the restart of the season that is expected to be in late July.

During the off-season, the Bucks brought in veterans such as Wesley Matthews, Robin Lopez and Kyle Korver and each has played a consistent role this season with the Bucks but along with their veteran experience and leadership, a weakness is the number of minutes they are able to contribute on a regular basis. The layoff due to the covid-19 outbreak could also be detrimental to the veterans as they often need more preparation to become physically fit after being idle for three to four months. Therefore, the Milwaukee Bucks coaching staff as well as the medical team will have their hands full preparing for the restart of the season, as younger teams in the league could be more prepared physically than the Bucks.

Milwaukee holds a commanding 6 ½-game lead in the Eastern Conference standings but when the season restarts it will be as though a brand new season is beginning and the teams should be on a more level playing court then when the season was suspended on March 12th. Milwaukee behind Giannis Antetokounmpo, Khris Middleton and Eric Bledsoe will win the Eastern Conference but will fall to the Western Conference champion Los Angeles Clippers in the NBA finals.