The Eastern Conference is in a state of flux right now, with major changes across the top teams expected. The Celtics have made their changes, while the 76ers are expected to trade James Harden away. The Bucks and the Heat are among the contenders as well and may have a rivalry brewing.
The Heat eliminated the No. 1 seed Bucks in the playoffs this season in a shocking upset. Despite what we saw, Kendrick Perkins believes the Bucks will beat the Heat if they were to rematch, even if the Heat add Damian Lillard via trade this summer.
“I would not come out here and disrespect the Heat Culture… They are not the favorites, nor would I have them the favorite even if they picked up Damian Lillard… I have everything invested into the Milwaukee Bucks this upcoming season as far as representing the Eastern Conference. I don’t want to disrespect the Miami Heat but if they get Damian Lillard and were to face this Milwaukee Bucks team again. I’m picking Milwaukee.”
"[The Heat] are not the favorites, nor would I have them the favorite even if they picked up Damian Lillard… I have everything invested into the Bucks… [if] they were to face this Milwaukee Bucks team again. I'm picking Milwaukee."
—Kendrick Perkinspic.twitter.com/rXT59xqZkW
— ClutchPoints (@ClutchPoints) July 19, 2023
Lillard averaged 32.2 points, 4.8 rebounds, and 7.3 assists last season, so adding scoring like that to a Heat team that often struggled offensively is going to be a massive weapon.
The Bucks underperformed heavily in the 2023 playoffs, and if they fall into a similar trap again, the team may have to make major changes to restructure the team’s future around Giannis Antetokounmpo.
Are The Bucks Still The Best Team In The East?
Everyone agreed last season that the Bucks came into the season as the best team in the East and then proved that fact throughout the regular season. Their playoff meltdown was shocking, even with the injury to Giannis. A one-seed should never lose to the eight-seed, and the Bucks lost pretty decisively.
They have to reclaim their position as the best team in the East, as both the Heat and Celtics could be considered ahead of them. They wouldn’t want the Knicks to make a big trade and possibly step ahead of them as well, so the Bucks will leave everything out on the court to maximize what their championship core can achieve before a rebuild is required.
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