Following a 108 - 97 victory over the Toronto Raptors, the Milwaukee Bucks have reached 50 wins, and have clinched a playoff spot. It's February. The 2019-2020 Bucks have passed the legendary Golden State Warriors in the fastest playoff spot clinch. This team is scary.
During the preseason, all the hype was surrounding the two LA teams. The Lakers looked stacked with their addition of big-man scoring machine Anthony Davis, and the Clippers seemed to be just unfair, adding Finals MVP Kawhii Leonard and perennial all-star Paul George. Right now, both teams are looking great. The Lakers are sitting atop the West with a record of 44-12, while the Clippers are not far behind with their record of 38-19.
Both LA teams have been dominant, but unfortunately, don't even come close to the sheer cruelty the Bucks have shown this season. The Clippers are 6th overall in winning margin, averaging wins by 5.7 points. The Lakers are second in scoring margin, an accomplishment that in normal circumstances would seem great, averaging wins by 7.4 points.
The Bucks are averaging 12.2 points over their victims. This may not seem like a huge feat, only five points more than the Lakers, but let me put into context why this number is so jaw dropping.
In the last 20 years, the only other team to average over 11 points in margin victory was the 2016-2017 Warriors, the Warriors that would win 67 games in the regular season and then win the NBA finals. In the HISTORY of the NBA, the only teams with higher averages in victory margin, are the 1995 Bulls with Michael Jordan, and the 1971 Lakers with Jerry West, Elgin Baylor, and the legendary Wilt Chamberlain.
What's especially terrifying about this Bucks team, is how similar they are to the 1995 Bulls with Michael Jordan and Scottie Pippen. Michael Jordan = Giannis Antetokounmpo. Michael Jordan won MVP that season, Giannis won last season and is looking to repeat. Scottie Pippen = Khris Middleton. Both complementary pieces to their MVPs who are great at what the MVPs lack.
If the Bucks keep this pace up, I'm afraid there is no team in the NBA that will be able to stop them. Not only will they be cemented as one of the greatest teams ever, look to Giannis being entered into the GOAT conversation.