Power Rankings: Eastern Conference Playoffs Edition

#4 Milwaukee Bucks

Giannis and Eric Bledsoe exchange high fives

The Milwaukee Bucks, despite underachieving in the regular season, have a shot at reaching the second round of playoffs by finishing 7th in the conference. Their 43-37 record does not do justice to the overall strength of their roster, which should be enough to get them over the line to the Conference Semifinals for the first time since the 2000-01 season when they made it to the Conference Finals.

In Giannis Antetokounmpo, the Bucks have a trump card who could change the complexion of any game with plays on either end of the floor. They have a plethora of options among perimeter players, with the likes of Khris Middleton, Eric Bledsoe, Malcolm Brogdon and Jabari Parker all having the ability to score in bunches.

Tony Snell is a 40% shooter from beyond the arc this season and can come up with big shots in crunch time. Brandon Jennings has done all right since signing late in the season. Jason Terry, even in his 40s, can make game-winning shots. Shabazz Muhammad is another option if the main rotation isn't getting buckets.

The Bucks' Achilles heel is their center rotation, which consists of John Henson and Thon Maker. Neither player is even a league-average defender or has the ability to generate their own offense.

Even so, the Bucks would go into a prospective first-round matchup against the Celtics as the favorites, given their firepower, length, and athleticism. Giannis would be the best player in that matchup, and his play could dictate how far the Bucks can go in this year's playoffs.