The NBA postseason is not set to begin for another 55 days, but the Milwaukee Bucks were able to qualify on Sunday … on their day off.
By virtue of the Washington Wizards losing to the Chicago Bulls on Sunday, the Bucks, at 48-8, can finish no worse than eighth in the Eastern Conference. By clinching a playoff spot on February 23, the Bucks became the fastest team to lock up a playoff spot since the NBA went to its current playoff model in 1984.
To put a bow on this, the 1981 Philadelphia 76ers clinched on Feb. 15 in the 12-team playoff format. Barring something missed, the #Bucks are the first team to clinch this early since that year, and the earliest to clinch in current playoff model (adopted in 1984). #FearTheDeer
— JR Radcliffe (@JRRadcliffe) February 24, 2020
— Milwaukee Bucks (@Bucks) February 24, 2020
The Bucks, who may be the best team of the millennium, are on pace to win 70 games, a feat that’s only been accomplished twice in NBA history, first by the 1995-96 Bulls (72 wins) and then again by the 2015-16 Golden State Warriors (73 wins).
Last season when the Bucks finished with a league-best 60 wins, they didn’t clinch a playoff spot until March 1.
Heading into play on Monday, Milwaukee owns a 6.5-game lead over second-place Toronto in the Eastern Conference standings. If the Bucks win Monday and the Orlando Magic lose in Brooklyn, Milwaukee will already be guaranteed no worse than the No. 7 seed.
Though it has been a team effort, the biggest driver of Milwaukee’s success this season has been reigning MVP Giannis Antetokounmpo.
An All-Star for the fourth straight season, the 25-year-old is averaging 30 points, 13.6 rebounds, 5.8 assists, 1.1 steals and 1.1 blocks in 30.9 minutes per game.
The NBA playoffs start on April 18.
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