The Milwaukee Bucks are crawling their way back to the top of the Eastern Conference standings, currently at sixth spot.
They did this through the heroics of superstars Giannis Antetokounmpo and Damian Lillard who together are the highest scoring duo in the league. They also got Khris Middleton back from injury.
Do other teams have something to be scared of about them? NBA on TNT guys, Shaquille O’Neal and Charles Barkley specifically does not buy anything the Bucks are doing right now.
Discussing Milwaukee before their NBA Cup quarterfinals game against the Orlando Magic, Shaq said the Antetokounmpo-led squad has more work to do to become a legit title contender.
O’Neal commended the Greek Freak and Lillard for what they are doing for their team after early struggles but he does not think they have enough to win the championship.
Barkley, on the other hand, specified what area the team needs to improve.
“First of all, I love this kid. I love everything about him but they gotta get more athletic in the perimeter. They have two guys who are athletic and that’s it,” he said.
He added that Bucks might have no answer against other top Eastern conference teams.
“You’re not gonna beat Boston [Celtics]. You’re not gonna beat the [New York] Knicks. You’re not gonna beat the Orlando Magic when they’re healthy with just one athletic guy. Dame’s a great player but he’s not an athletic guy.
“The way the game is played, your wing defenders have to be athletic. And they don’t have it.”
Barkley ended his take by saying that Bucks might not even beat the Cleveland Cavaliers.
Kenny Smith has different take on Milwaukee Bucks
While the two NBA legends are skeptic about the Bucks season, their co-host and two-time champion Kenny Smith begged to differ.
You know, I would disagree. You know at the start, everyone was calling phones and say ‘Hey, how do we get Giannis?’ because of their 2-and-8 start. I didn’t believe in that. I just thought that with Middleton being out. Dame being a veteran. Giannis being a veteran they would take time to kind of like to get to that season. They’re really here now.
They went 11-3, whatever, in November. That’s who they are. This is the team you’re gonna have to beat come playoff time.
Shaq tried to intervene and said asked “Can they beat Boston and the Knicks?”
Smith answered: They will be a top four seed so they will be playing in the conference finals. I think they could.
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