Everybody wants to crown the Philadelphia 76ers, for good reason by the way. The Sixers have improved their roster from the ground up. Joel Embiid is my ride or die. Love him as a player. So much so he’s hanging on the wall in my closet. Hope that’s not too weird for you guys.

Mark my words: He will win MVP one day. Ben Simmons is going to be a perennial all-star as long as he stays healthy. If he ever finds a jump shot… We could be talking about the best player in the league. Even picking up J.J. Reddick was a sneaky savvy move for the Sixers. They are a team on the rise no doubt. Saying all that, I think there is a team that is set up even better than them. A team that could have a dynasty in the East once Lebron starts to lose a step, if that’s even humanly possible. 

“Fear The Deer!” No seriously. The Milwaukee Bucks have a squad now and a hot shot coach on the sidelines. Jason Kidd has helped build a seriously formidable squad in the state of Winconsin of all places. Everything starts with Giannis Antetokounmpo. It took me three years to be able to pronounce his name and I just learned how to spell it as I’m writing this. He started to creep on my radar last year when he made the all-star team and this year he really has the league by the throat. Imagine Russell Westbrook but seven feet tall. That is Antetokounmpo in a nutshell. He’s a transcendent player in a league that is moving toward small ball. If you have a seven footer than can handle the ball like a guard, it really stretches the defense and makes your offense so much more versatile. 

Antetokounmpo is averaging 30 points, ten rebounds, five assists and sprinkles in a couple steals and blocks a game. He’s brought his game to a new level and seems to play his best ball agaisnt the best players in the league. He dropped 40 agaisnt Lebron and the Cavs albeit in a loss. 

   The Bucks are setting the blue print for how the modern NBA lineup should look. They have consistent playmaking and decision making at the point with Malcolm Brogdon. Not to mention he shot 40 percent from three last year and is shooting 48 percent so far this year. He’s also raised his scoring six points from 10 a game last season to 16 this year. Tony Snell will go to the bench once newcomer Eric Bledsoe is inserted. Kris Middleton is not a star but he’s a very good complimentary scorer putting up 20 points a game. He can defend your best player at 6-8. Thon Maker looks like he can be a player if he gets more playing time and learns how to play in this league. A seven footer who can shoot from three is always a threat. The difference maker for this team can be Bledsoe. He may be short for a point guard, but ultra athletic and a two-way player. He can match up with any guard in the league and can get his own shot. Bledsoe is one of the most underrated players in the Association, but he’s been stuck in basketball hell playing for the Pheonix Suns. Now he is with a contender. The Bucks give him the opportunity to showcase to the world he can really hoop with the best guards in the NBA. 

   While their record isn’t spectacular (4-6 including a 124-119 loss to the Cavs last night) the Bucks have all the ingredients to seriously challenge the Cavs for the East crown. It took 30 points from Lebron and 32 from Kevin Love to hold them off. Adding Bledsoe to their team makes them extremely dangerous. He can take the last shot and will make Antetokounmpo that much better. All their starters are long and can defend. If Jabari Parker comes back, LeBron will be making tweets like this more often.