No doubt there will be many who disagree with this placement, but I couldn’t rationalize placing the Bucks ahead of the Nuggets and Raptors for playing with so many key injuries and still registering key wins. Nor could I move them ahead of the Warriors who boast the best offense. In fact, I considered moving the Thunder ahead based on their top defense.
It’s true, I generally reward Net Differential above all — but there are other extenuating factors. First of all, the Bucks (entering week 9) held a .500 road record and played the fewest games on the road of the top five teams. Although they own a winning record versus the West the Raptors record versus the West (and upper WC tier) is better.
Health is an intangible, but aside from Giannis and Kawhi missing the Milwaukee-Toronto game the Bucks starting 5 has missed only 5 other games (all against lower seeds). Whereas the Raptors “typical starters” (although, even that is a stretch given there have been 12 iterations of the Starting 5) has missed 18 games with 11 being against the upper echelon and many with multiple players out at once.
Still, this Bucks squad has earned its position in the top five and belongs to a few exclusive groups.
Rank top 10 in offense, defense, and net differential:
- Bucks
- Raptors
- Nuggets
Winning record at home, road, vs. East, and West and versus both conferences:
- Raptors
- Warriors
- Nuggets
Same as above, but with .500 road record:
- Bucks
- Thunder
Same as top four category, except .500 vs. East
- Celtics
So, while the Bucks rank higher in some categories the Nuggets and Raptors are the only squads ranking top 10 in each of those categories.
Milwaukee Bucks:
Offensive Rating: 2nd
Defensive Rating: 5th
Net Differential: 1st
Points per game: 118.0 (1st)
Offensive field goal efficiency: 47.4 percent (7th)
Opponent points per game: 109.0 (11th)
Opponent field goal efficiency: 43.7 percent (1st)
3-point efficiency: 35.0 percent (15th)
Opponent 3-point efficiency: 35.6 percent (tied 16th)
Record: 2nd in EC
Home: 13-3
Road: 6-6
Back to back sets: 4
Versus the East: 12-4
Versus the West: 7-5
Week nine 2-1: Won Cavaliers, @Cavaliers lost to @Pacers
On tap for week 10: @Pistons, Pelicans, (B2B: @Celtics, @Heat)