Giannis doesn't believe in bad luck, but Buck's most recent playoff history was anything but lucky

Another year, another earlier exit for the Milwaukee Bucks, which were excluded on Tuesday from the NBA Playoffs 2025 with a heartbreaking loss of overtime against the Indiana Pacers in game 5 of their first series. The goats led around 20 years old and had risen by seven with less than 40 seconds to play in the additional frame, but collapsed and gave up an 8-0 run to end the game.

This is the second season in a row in which the bucks were switched off by the Pacers, and the third season in a row did not exceed the first round. Since winning the title in 2021, the Bucks have only won a playoff series and are 11-17 in post-season games.

Numerous factors have led to the short seasons of the goats, but nobody played a greater role than injuries. The bucks were in each of their last four playoff runs without a key player. This time only Damian Lillard, only Only back from a blood clot That had kept him away for over a month tore his Achilles tendon in Milwaukees game 4 on Sunday.

“I don't know how to deal with it, you just take care of it,” said Bucks coach Doc Rivers after game 4. “When your two best players – one had got out of one year, both were out of the last year. This year Giannis is going to be great, now lady is playing back, but he is never right.”

Of course, you cannot talk about the goats and injuries in the playoffs without mentioning what happened on the way to your title in 2021. In the second round, they looked at the second best in the Brooklyn networks this year and fell back 2-0, but were able to lead a large comeback in a large part by injuries to James Harden and Kyrie Irving. When the networks had stayed healthy, the goats may not even have a championship during this time.

Nevertheless, the bucks were disproportionately affected by injuries in the past seasons. Is it just bad luck? Not in Giannis Antetocounmpos View.

“I don't believe in bad luck. I'm too blessed to believe in bad luck,” said Antetocounmpo on Sunday. “I think everything happens for a certain reason. Obviously, I wish lady all the best. We love him, we will support him, but we just have to go forward.”

It remains to be seen When antetocounmpo progresses with the Bucks. Before the numbers that are an eventful summer, a look at why the goats went home earlier than expected in the past four years.

2022: Middleton sprained his knee

One year after winning the title, the Bucks 51-31 went to earn number 3 in a wide-open East Conference, in which the four best teams were separated by just two games. Most experts expected to return to the final and possibly even repeat them as champions.

These dreams were essentially destroyed when Khris Middleton slipped in a wet space in game 2 of the first round of the Bucks with the Chicago Bulls. In Middleton, an MCL immersion in the left knee was diagnosed and this post -season was never played again.

While the goats were still able to send the overvalued bulls, they did not have the necessary firepower against the Boston Celtics. They led this series 2: 1 and later 3-2 to end them at home in game 6, but lost 20 rebounds and six assists from Antetocounmpo despite 44 points. Game 7 in Boston was not close.

2023: Antetokounmpo takes a fall

After a disappointing end in 2022, the Bucks brought back the same team and were great in the regular 2023 season. At 58-24 they had the best record in the league, which gave them the home advantage throughout the playoffs, and they were again final candidates.

Then, eight minutes after game 1 of the team's first round against Miami Heat, drove Antetokounmpo to the basket and was undermined by Kevin Love, who arrived late when he received an indictment. Antetokounmpo landed on the back and only returned after game 4.

The goats had already dropped 2-1 at the time, but could still have won the series. Even if Antetocounmpo had 4 and 5 15 points in the games. Somehow they both lost by a combination of late game errors and heroic moments by Jimmy Butler.

2024: Antetocounmpo and Lillard were both failed

The collapse against the heat has given the end for the long -time coach Mike Bodenholzer, which was relieved of his duties and replaced by Adrian Griffin. A few months later, the Bucks swung a blockbuster trade to buy Lillard, and there was sunshine again, lollipops and rainbows in Milwaukee.

Once again, the good times were short. Despite a 30-13 record at this time, Griffin was released after 118 days because he never stood on the same side with his experienced stars. Rivers was stopped as a replacement, but hardly had the chance to train his best players.

Middleton missed the great time in the route, then Antetokounmpo strived for his calf on April 9th ​​in game No. 79, which turned out to be a injury to the end of the season. Antetokounmpo never appropriately in the team's first round against the Pacers, but with Middleton in addition to Lillard, the Bucks still hoped to get ahead.

Instead, Lillard burdened his Achilles tendon in game 3 during the heartbreaking loss of the team and had to expose himself from games 4 and 5. Although he returned for game 6, he was not himself and Middleton and everyone else was not in petrol. They were blown out in Indianapolis and ended another season under frustrating circumstances.

2025: Lillard's blood clot and Achilles tendon crack

This season there were split opinions about the arches. Half the view of glass was that they had a full low season with rivers, Antetocounmpo and Lillard were healthy and still one of the best duo in the league and they had made some intelligent value obligations. The glasses half empty view was that Rivers was a non -trustworthy coach, Lillard and Middleton were at various points in their career and they didn't have enough depth.

Both income was correct at various points of the season. When the playoffs rolled, Middleton had been traded against Kyle Kuzma and Lillard had passed in his calf with a blood clot. Some still thought they could beat the Pacers in the first round, but there were no real playoff expectations.

That also remained true when Lillard in game 2 achieved a breathtaking return and helped them win Game 3 to get on the board in the series. Unfortunately, his return ended a few minutes in game 4 when he took a false step and his Achilles tendon opened, ended this season and possibly all cost him in the next season.

Without lillard, the goats were emotionally spent in game 4 and fell down the route in game 5.