Bucks vs. 76ers: The Ultimate Eastern Conference Showdown!
Many years of bitter rivalry have transpired between NBA teams from the Eastern Conference, but there’s something special to the rivalry that exists now between the Milwaukee Bucks and the Philadelphia 76ers. Both of these teams are highly talented and ambitious, have constantly dominated the standings of the Eastern Conference, and their games have already become must-watch sporting events for the basketball fan. With all the superstars, capable coaching staffs, and the depth that both these teams seem to have at their disposal, the intense battle between the Bucks and 76ers may well prove to become one of the truly defining rivalries in the modern NBA.
We will take you down to the nitty-gritty of what makes this rivalry exciting as we compare the strengths between the involved teams, key players, and coaching strategies that prepare them to face off for each other’s good NBA futures. Whether you’re a hardcore fan or just love basketball, here’s an in-depth look at the Bucks vs 76ers: the ultimate showdown in the Eastern Conference.
Brief History of the Rivalry
The rivalry between the Milwaukee Bucks and the Philadelphia 76ers hadn’t been this intense in history, so it is now. While the two franchises have spelled their respective periods of domination, they hardly peaked at the same time. But over the past few seasons, the landscape changed overnight. With players like Giannis Antetokounmpo for the Bucks and Joel Embiid for the 76ers, both of these teams have become absolute powerhouses in the East and often threaten the top seeding in the conference.
No team has more experience in winning a championship than these two. Bucks finally won one in 2021, which can be considered an added boost of confidence for them. The “Process” became the resurrection of Philadelphia 76ers where they started this long rebuilding process to finally form a roster that may have a chance at winning a championship. What initially were routine Eastern Conference games have now become a must-win, which will shift the course of their playoff destiny.
Key Players: The Superstars
Giannis Antetokounmpo: The Greek Freak
Milwaukee’s Giannis Antetokounmpo can be described simply as the face of the Bucks and among the superstars in the NBA. 2021 was all the more thrilling for “Greek Freak” as he bagged two MVP awards and led his team to win the championship. He’s the whole package-combined size, athleticism, and skill that makes a player nearly impossible to guard. Giannis comes in at 6’11”, and he can play several positions, with the fact that he can handle the ball himself, shoot well, defend very well, and even create for his teammates being a nightmare to face by opponents.
What makes Giannis particularly problematic to Philadelphia 76ers lineups is his versatility. The elite defense that the 76ers put out on the court often times struggles to keep the rock off the paint, at Giannis’s hands. It forces defenses to clog in to take away the basket, and shooters become open on the perimeter.
Priority number one for the 76ers to stop Giannis, yet this is never an easy task as most teams have learned.
Joel Embiid: The Dominant Big Man
Across the court from the Celtics, the 76ers feature one of the best big men to be found in the league, Joel Embiid. This Cameroon native stands at 7 feet tall and becomes a giant force to be felt on both sides of the floor. Embiid’s skill set is unique to today’s NBA, as he can score from anywhere on the court in order to post, hit mid-range jump shots, or even knock down threes. A shot-blocking presence like him is a game-changer on the defensive side of the ball, and the ability to guard multiple positions only makes him the critical piece of the 76ers’ defensive schemes.
Embiid often goes toe-to-toe with the Bucks in matchups with Milwaukee’s big men, particularly Brook Lopez and Giannis. While Lopez is a solid shot-blocker, the offensive arsenal has often given the advantage to Embiid in head-to-heads with Lopez. One of the major issues for the 76ers has been to try to keep Embiid healthy for a full season, but games like this only intensify the ordeal.
Supporting Cast: Depth and Versatility
While Giannis and Embiid were the headliners, both teams built deep rosters around their superstars.
For the Bucks, it’s Khris Middleton, one of those guys; Jrue Holiday-the newly traded in-who just recently stepped into his game at what would have seemed to be an incredibly deep time, and Brook Lopez, who has been perhaps one key contributor to their success. Middleton can score from anywhere, playing second fiddle to Giannis in perfection. Holiday’s defense and playmaking are invaluable in high-pressure situations. The ability of the Bucks to surround Giannis with elite shooters and defenders has been the key to sustaining their success.
On the side of the 76ers, there’s more of role players with much potential- Tyrese Maxey, a very much speedy guard who can score well, and Tobias Harris, who can expand the floors and contribute on both ends. The 76ers’ bench also features good role players like P.J. Tucker, carrying strong defense capabilities and three-point shootings, and De’Anthony Melton. Still, perhaps one of the more difficult challenges for the 76ers has been to emerge with a legitimate secondary star to complement Embiid; many fans have hung their hats on Maxey being the next major step.
Coaching Matchup: Nick Nurse vs. Adrian Griffin
Both teams bring coaching staffs with much-needed experience to the table. The Bucks parted ways with Mike Budenholzer and promoted Adrian Griffin, a first-timer as a head coach but not as an assistant for years. Griffin comes bearing a new system, one that emphasizes versatility and reversible defensive schemes, which are adjustable during the playoff game. His leadership and strategic adjustments have made all the difference in unlocking the potential in role players while keeping the Bucks competitive, even when Giannis is off the floor.
The 76ers made this high-profile hire in the name of bringing in Nick Nurse, the former coach of the Toronto Raptors, which he led to a championship in 2019. Nurse is famous for creative schemes on defence, and boldness in making adjustments during games. Such a rooster combined with championship pedigree would make him perfect for a team that looks to break through and get through to the next round. It is the tactical approach of Nurse that may well be what helps figure out how to perhaps calm down Giannis and exploit the weaknesses of the Bucks on defense.
The Tactical Battle: Offense vs. Defense
As one analyzes Bucks and 76ers, the most interesting aspect of their matchups relates to playing style contrast.
What Bucks are all about is Giannis’s ability to get into the defense to score or kick to shooters. Milwaukee loves to spread the floor with shooters, allowing Giannis to operate. This strategy places an enormous amount of pressure on opposing defenses, particularly those with a defense similar to the 76ers, which emphasizes heavily on Joel Embiid’s ability to protect the paint. Now, if Embiid commits to being a player who does very well contesting shooters like Middleton and Lopez, that opens up driving lanes for Giannis.
Defensively, the Bucks have been one of the best teams in the league, in large part because of their size and length, with a Giannis who can play nearly every spot on defense and Lopez being one of the league’s best rim protectors. It is very tough to score against such a combination inside the paint.
On the other side of the coin, the 76ers run a more post-oriented offense that puts a ton of pressure on Embiid. They use both sets in which they isolate him in the post and the pick-and-rolls to get him to excellent match-ups. Other than his proven ability to score efficiently, they also have shooters who can create space on the court, making it hard for opponents to double-team him without open shots.
The 76ers defense would be more aggressive under Nurse. With Tucker and Melton, you can get away with various different looks against the Bucks in order to slow up Giannis. Still, though, we have seen that this is a task for one game that nobody would wish for, either them or Milwaukee.
Regular Season vs. Playoffs
One of the most interesting dynamics between the Bucks and 76ers is how their games are fundamentally different in the regular season versus the playoffs. In the regular season, both teams tend to play fast, and the rotations tend to be more lax. Come playoff time, though, that competitive level and all the coaching adjustments matter.
In the playoffs, it’s much of a more game strategic battle. The Bucks can really make things very difficult for the 76ers on both sides of the court. By switching between zone and man-to-man defense, their complicated defensive schemes can sometimes force some key mistakes into the 76ers. Conversely, the ability of the 76ers to exploit mismatches with Embiid in the post is even more invaluable as every possession counts.
The playoffs also reveal depth in each team. Injuries, fatigue, and foul trouble could turn the game around in a hurry, and both teams are going to rely on their bench players to perform heroically during those crunch time moments.
What’s on the line?
Both Bucks and 76ers are in more desperate need of this win because their chances have never been as bad as they are at present. For Milwaukee, it would be the post-championship year after Milwaukee won the championship for the first time in history in 2021. The Bucks know fully well that with Giannis at the prime of his career, the championship window has gone fully open; however, they cannot miss the competitiveness in the East.
It’s all about proving to the world that “The Process” can actually deliver a title for this young talent-laden 76ers core. As crazy as it seems, the 76ers haven’t advanced past the Eastern Conference Finals since the Embiid era. With a move to insert Nick Nurse into the organization, that means the team is ready to drive home its ambitions with a deep playoff run. Anything less would be failure.
