Seeding games power ranking: OKC Thunder defense bolsters their position

AUGUST 09: Terrance Ferguson #23, Darius Bazley #7, Chris Paul #3, Devon Hall #14, and Luguentz Dort #5 of the OKC Thunder celebrate after defeating the Washington Wizards (Photo by Kim Klement - Pool/Getty Images)
AUGUST 09: Terrance Ferguson #23, Darius Bazley #7, Chris Paul #3, Devon Hall #14, and Luguentz Dort #5 of the OKC Thunder celebrate after defeating the Washington Wizards (Photo by Kim Klement - Pool/Getty Images)
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OKC Thunder
Giannis Antetokounmpo #34 of the Milwaukee Bucks dribbles the ball while being guarded by Steven Adams, Hamidou Diallo OKC Thunder (Photo by Dylan Buell/Getty Images)

Milwaukee Bucks:

Like the Lakers, the Bucks didn’t need to do anything during the seeding games other than keep their players in condition and make sure their rhythm was functioning.

They had a strength of schedule in the middle of the pack (11th) with a cumulative opponent win total of 296.

Giannis Antetokounmpo looked just as sharp as he did when the hiatus began but his team struggled when he sat. Wins against the Celtics and Heat were positives but losses to the Rockets, Nets, and Mavericks specifically noted the inability of the Bucks to stop teams with or without their MVP on the court.

Seeding Game Results:

Bucks 119 – Celtics  112
Rockets 120 – Bucks 116
Nets 119 – Bucks 116
Bucks – 130 – Heat 116
Mavericks 136 – Bucks 132 OT
Raptors 114 – Bucks 106
Bucks 126 – Wizards 113
Grizzlies 119 – 108 Bucks