Pacers and Bucks rivalry will be one for the Future
The Indiana Pacers returned to playoff form last season and were four games away from an NBA Finals appearance. No team gave them quite a rivalry like the Milwaukee Bucks. Although the Pacers went 4-1 in the regular season and beat the Bucks 4-2 in the first round, there is a legit rivalry glooming.
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Tyrese Haliburton had the Bucks number all season averaging 27 points and 11 assists against them and being able to outplay Damian Lillard throughout the season series. Lillard and Giannis Antetokounmpo have yet to really stabilize a two-man game, and Khris Middleton has had some inconsistency issues throughout his career. Trading away Jrue Holiday to the Celtics was also a big mistake that they made, and it helped the rival win a title. The main rivalry began after the 64-point explosion from Antetokounmpo where he would not get the game ball and there would be a slight altercation between the teams.
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This season both teams have not been way too active in the off-season as the Pacers lost Jalen Smith, signed James Wiseman and Cole Swider. They resigned Pascal Siakam, Obi Toppin, T.J. McConnell and Andrew Nembhard. The Bucks on the other hand lost Malik Beasley and Patrick Beverley. They would sign Taurean Prince and Delon Wright.
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It is important for both of these teams to get hot early and maintain a top-5 position in the Eastern Conference. Both teams finished third and sixth last season respectively, and both had very good records. Both of these teams have some good depth and will be looking to up their rivalry next season.
The Central division in itself has some playoff-caliber teams that are all looking to take that next step and make it to the finals. The Cleveland Cavaliers have been a steady first or second round team that has a championship-caliber roster. The Chicago Bulls and Detroit Pistons have been closer to the bottom of the East but are looking to get better and add some new weapons.
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