8 points, 9 seconds
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Taking stock of the Pacers and the summer

By Jonathan Matthes

LAS VEGAS, NV - JULY 9: Head Coach Nate McMillan of the Indiana Pacers during the game against the Cleveland Cavaliers during the 2018 Las Vegas Summer League on July 9, 2018 at the Cox Pavilion in Las Vegas, Nevada. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2018 NBAE (Photo by Bart Young/NBAE via Getty Images)
LAS VEGAS, NV - JULY 9: Head Coach Nate McMillan of the Indiana Pacers during the game against the Cleveland Cavaliers during the 2018 Las Vegas Summer League on July 9, 2018 at the Cox Pavilion in Las Vegas, Nevada. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2018 NBAE (Photo by Bart Young/NBAE via Getty Images) /
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Milwaukee Bucks forward Giannis Antetokounmpo (34) tries to push his way past Washington Wizards forward Markieff Morris (5) (Toni L. Sandys/The Washington Post via Getty Images)
Milwaukee Bucks forward Giannis Antetokounmpo (34) tries to push his way past Washington Wizards forward Markieff Morris (5) (Toni L. Sandys/The Washington Post via Getty Images) /

The East’s second tier

The East’s second tier is occupied currently by two teams: the Milwaukee Bucks and the Washington Wizards. Both are undeniably talented. Both are likely terminally flawed. If the stars align, either (or both) could be hosting first round playoff games next April. But…

Milwaukee has Giannis Antetokounmpo, who’s tremendously gifted. The Bucks also have Khris Middleton who could be a sleeper All-Star pick next year. They drafted Donte DiVincenzo, who is going to be very good. Their coach (Mike Budenholzer) is brilliant. And then they have a lot of meh.

As it stands the Bucks are a three-man team with a promising rookie and a herd of players who you’d think would be better. That’s enough to be a playoff team, hell, they’ll probably be a tough out in the playoffs, but it’s not enough to be an actual great team.

While Brook Lopez finally adds some consistent offense to the center spot, he’s not exactly impressive on defense. Thon Maker and John Henson have both been consistently inconsistent in their careers.

Eric Bledsoe has rarely thrived in a starting role on winning teams, and always underperforms in the playoffs. A difference maker has yet to emerge from the Tony Snell-Malcolm Brogdon-Sterling Brown trio. That’s not saying it never will, it just hasn’t happened yet.

As it stands the Bucks are a three-man team with a promising rookie and a herd of players who you’d think would be better. That’s enough to be a playoff team, hell, they’ll probably be a tough out in the playoffs, but it’s not enough to be an actual great team.

Washington (this section was alphabetical, by the way) should be better than what they are. Dwight Howard is coming off his best season since 2014. John Wall and Bradley Beal are all-stars. Otto Porter has Swiss-army knife versatility. Markieff Morris, Kelly Oubre Jr. and Tomas Satoransky all can play. They should be a good team.

However, Washington’s record has fluctuated like a roller coaster in recent years (44 wins in 13-14, then 46, 41, 49, 43 last year). Wall and Beal don’t mesh as well as one would think they should. Howard’s reputation of a morale butcher has only grown recently.

Not only are the Wizards his fourth team in four years, but two teams (Charlotte and Brooklyn) basically gave him up for nothing this summer. The Wizards just feel like a team who won’t reach whatever peak they’re capable of, they’re a tinfoil-wrapped chicken beginning a three-minute tour in the microwave. It could come out juicy and flavorful, or it could blow up and take the house with it.

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