The Milwaukee Bucks are within the thick of issues within the Japanese Convention, at the moment sitting fifth within the East playoff image at 26-22.
However having one of many world’s greatest gamers in Giannis Antetokounmpo brings a particular form of strain on the subject of pursuing the final word aim: an NBA championship.
The 2021 NBA champions reportedly pulled off a commerce Wednesday with the aim of giving Giannis and the Bucks extra help, however the oddsmakers at BetMGM aren’t too impressed.
The Bucks had been +2800 to win the NBA Finals earlier than dealing Khris Middleton in a bundle for Kyle Kuzma, however after information of the commerce broke, the Bucks’ title odds had been … +2800.
Middleton, 33, has struggled with an assortment of accidents, rehab and restricted minutes, and whereas his effectivity has been strong (51.2/40.7/84.8 capturing splits), the three-time All-Star simply hasn’t been capable of present constant contributions for the Bucks. He’s enjoying the fewest minutes of his profession (23.2) since his rookie season in 2012-13.
Kuzma, then again, has been having a flat-out horrible season for the woeful, directionless Wizards, capturing 42% p.c from the ground and 28.1% from 3. Nonetheless, if there’s a purpose for optimism, it is that Kuzma’s offensive appears ought to enhance whereas sharing the court docket with Antetokounmpo and Damian Lillard, versus, say, Jordan Poole and Bilal Coulibaly.
And there may be one thing to Kuzma, 29, enjoying the 4 alongside Antetokounmpo on the 5 in small-ball lineups.
However no matter occurs in Milwaukee within the second half of the season, bettors apparently are usually not but shopping for it.
