15 Impressive Facts About The Bucks Dominant 15 Game Winning Streak

You turn on the TV right now and chances are you're going to hear nonstop takes about the Lakers and their 21-3 start. You'll hear networks talk up AD as a MVP and a DPOY, there will be endless LeBron knob slobbering and while it's all warranted, I feel like we can't just ignore what is happening in MIL. I know we don't have a Bucks blogger, and I know they are an Eastern Conference competitor to my favorite team, but someone has to stand up for Bucks fans and give them a voice on this here website because what they are doing right now is fucking ridiculous. Let's get the basics out of the way

Record: 21-3 (currently riding a 15 game winning streak, 6-3 against teams over .500 which is tied for the most in the East)

Point Differential: #1 in the NBA at +13.3 (that's a historic number)

Ortg: #2 in the NBA

Drtg: #1 in the NBA

Net rating: #1 in the NBA

TS%: #1 in the NBA

This isn't just during this 15 game streak, this is ALL season. The Bucks were an absolute wagon last season and they appear to be even better this year despite losing a key rotation player in Macolm Brogdon. It's not a fluke that everything Lakers fans are cumming themselves over in regards to their team, the Bucks are even better at and they have just as unstoppable of a force on their roster. This is the best team in basketball at the moment and they have a real shot to get to 20 wins in a row if you look at their schedule. Only 6 teams have ever reached that number in the history of the NBA and the last to do it was the 1970-71 Bucks and guess who won the NBA title that season. 

So I figured for all the Bucks fans out there, why not take a minute and appreciate the history that we are watching with 15 pretty impressive facts during this streak

1. 5 wins over this streak have come against current playoff teams

Salty Lakers fans will be quick to point out the strength of schedule of this streak since that's what the internet did when talking about the Lakers start, and it's true, it's not like all 15 games have been a murders row of opponents. But there have been 5 playoff teams in this streak, including blowouts against IND and LAC who are pretty damn good, one of those coming on the road. 

2. Giannis is averaging 31.5/12.7/4.5 on 56/33% with 2 3PM

I'm not sure what I expected the next level of Giannis to look like, but I didn't exactly think it would be prime Shaq with a three point shot. He's had at least 25/10 in 12 of the 15 games and not to scare you but this month so far he's averaging 2.5 3PM while shooting 47.6% from three. Shit like this is why you have to have him as the leader for MVP right now. There's simply no stopping him because either he's getting to the line, he's dunking on you, and now if you dare him to shoot he can bury you from three on what appears to be a consistent basis. Jesus.

3. They've taken their net rating up a notch to 15.6 over this stretch, which also leads the league

What's impressive about this is the Bucks haven't even had the best offense in the league during this winning streak. They trail both the Lakers and the Mavs in terms of team offense. But what they have done is remain nails on the defensive end (1st), and have seen their already impressive net rating on the season get even better during this streak. A net rating of 15.6 I feel like shouldn't happen, and to put that in perspective it's about double what they were last year (8.6) which led the NBA. That's insane. 

4. They've only had Khris Middleton for 8 of the games

Losing Khris Middleton, an All Star talent who is a pretty important secondary scorer for this team was supposed to cause issues. You take a #2 away from the Lakers and what happens? Hell, you do it to almost any team in the league and I bet they don't go 7-0 no matter what their competition looks like. But that just goes to show you how deep this team is. In the 8 games he's played Middleton has been solid in limited minutes as he returns from injury, but 15/5.6/4.1 on 52/38% shooting isn't too shabby.

5. They lead the NBA in points per game and are shooting 49% as a team

An average of 121 a night that's been slightly above where they've lived the entire season. Top 5 in three point shooting, 6th in FTA, this offense is clicking on another level and honestly has since the jump.

6. Their bench is the 4th highest scoring unit in the NBA

This is what I mean when I talk about their depth. The Bucks are way more than just Giannis and their 43 points per game from the second unit during this streak has been huge. This is a team that relies on that unit a bunch, seeing as how they have played the 2nd most minutes of any bench unit over the last 15 games.

7. The Bucks lead the NBA in second half points per game

Let's say by some miracle you manage to keep it close with the Bucks over the first 24 minutes. You're probably feeling pretty good about yourself and maybe are even thinking an upset might be coming. Well then the second half starts and the Bucks drop their NBA leading 62.1 points per game in the second half on the table and the next thing you know it's another win. They are shooting 50% in the second half of games during this streak which lead the NBA, and if we want to look at the 4th quarter specifically they also lead the NBA in that (31 points) and are 2nd in FG% at 49.7%. So yeah, this is not a team that falls asleep at the wheel.

8. 4-0 against the West, making them 1 of 2 teams to be undefeated against that Conference 

Surprisingly the Bucks and the Magic are the only teams to be undefeated against the West during this timeframe. They have the third most wins in the East against the West with only BOS and IND having more, but they've also lost multiple times. 

9. Opponents cannot shoot against this team

#1 in opponents FG%, a big reason for that has been how they've defended 2pt FGs, which they lead the league in during this stretch. 

10. Their average margin of victory is 16.8 points

Back to back 40+ point wins, a 28 point win over the Clippers, the Bucks may have pulled out a few close wins to start this streak, but they are absolutely destroying people.

11. Wesley Matthews might be good?

He could be an X-factor for this team if this version of Wesley Matthews is who Bucks fans can expect to see. He's averaging 9.3 points on 44/41% splits and 1.9 3PM a night, and that's the sort of reliable outside shooting this team will need. He did a great job filling in for Middleton and is more than respectable as a 4th option within this offense. 

12. They've been even more devastating at home

A net rating of 17.7 which leads the NBA, only the Sixers (10), have more wins at home during this streak. Good luck winning in that building. Shit, good luck scoring anything seeing as how their Drtg improves to 99 in their own building.

13. Turn it over and die

The Bucks are 6th in the NBA in points off turnovers and 2nd in fast break points so basically if you turn it over in any capacity against this team, they are going to make you pay.

14. They are dominant in the clutch

Either this team is blowing you out, or they are beating you in clutch situations. They have the 2nd best net rating in these situations with a ridiculous +46.6 number, and their Drtg is an outrageous 69.7. What even is that? 

15. Giannis is rested

He's only playing 30.9 minutes a night over this streak, which is not only lower than his season average, but if you look at all the top scorers around him (Harden, Luka, Young, Beal, AD), they mostly are all playing around 4-9 minutes more than Giannis a night. Nobody in the NBA averages more a game while playing less than Giannis during this 15 game streak. The idea that he's getting rest and still dominating like this is terrifying considering their schedule is only getting easier. 

So yeah, this 15 game streak has been pretty impressive no matter where you look. I think it's fair to say that if either LA team was currently in the middle of one of the longest streaks in recent NBA history we would hear a whole lot more about it, but the Bucks just quietly go about their business playing some of the best basketball this league has seen in years. How high do you think they can go? Will they flirt with the Lakers 33 in a row record? I just hope they are still alive when they face the Lakers for win #20, because if they get past that and somehow are at 23 by Christmas against PHI, a run of ATL/ORL/CHI/MIN/SA/SA/GS could have them at 30 by early 2020. Christ.